This week's Friendship Friday post is about E.S.
I met E.S. through L.A. in September 2003. L.A. had a grad school graduation party and was friends with E.S.'s husband, so she invited them both to attend. When I first met E.S., I thought she was all sophisticated and was almost intimidated by her. Then we were all sitting and chatting with a group of people and I brought up the movie "Camp," which I had recently seen. She and I then discovered one of the first things we had in common...a love for anything Broadway related. Then we got to talking more and I found out that she had the same band at her wedding that we'd be having for ours. She also had a similar ceremony (including a badeken beforehand) to what we were going to have. We exchanged numbers before she left the party and then didn't get a chance to hang out until November. I did run into her at a Yom Kippur service in October though. It was nice to find a friendly face amongst a sea of strangers and her presence made the service more comfortable. When we finally went out, it was on a double date with our husbands (mine was still my fiancee at the time). After dinner, we hung out to watch their wedding video to get ideas for our ceremony. Then they invited us to go out with them and a big group of their friends that Saturday night.
Our second outing involved watching "Willy Wonka..." in a van and cramming into a small Italian restaurant with about 20 people. On the way back, we bonded over some crazy stories. A few weeks later, she invited us over for what would be the first of many Shabbat meals together.
We continued to get together often and confide in each other a lot, especially as the months got closer toward my wedding and I was going through a lot of pre-wedding stress. The week leading up to my bachelorette party really brought to light what a true friend she was. A bunch of plans had fallen through and there were a lot of people confused about what was going on for that Saturday. She offered to step in and take care of everything, and I let her. Along with my sister, she put together a plan and contacted everyone to alert them to the changes. I didn't have to worry about a thing. I had only known her about 5 months, but at that instant, I felt like I had been friends with her for years.
Over the few short months that we knew each other at the time, we came up with a bunch of inside jokes and would stay up past midnight playing board games together with our husbands. We'd get together often for meals, shopping, etc. I introduced her to my sister and they became close, as well.
After our wedding, she and her husband moved into a townhouse and their move inspired us to look for a townhouse of our own. We found one a few weeks later. We went out to celebrate with them and found out that evening that she was pregnant with her first child. She was one of my first friends to have a baby and I was really excited for this next step in her life. (I had other friends who had babies a few years earlier, but I had lost touch with them.)
We spent a lot of the summer at Dairy Queen, even though she would tell us that we were "forcing" her to go there. We also went to movies a lot. In the fall, she invited us over for a Rosh Hashanah meal. We continued to hang out and do the usual "girlfriend" things, knowing she'd have more responsibilities soon. The night before she had her baby, she went out with another friend and me to get pancakes. Then we ended up walking around Jewel for a while. We called it her "last hurrah." After she had her baby, we visited her the next day at the hospital. Something must have been in the water then because I really wanted a baby after I held hers for the first time. I became pregnant a month later and she was the first friend with whom I shared the news when it was safe to do so (after telling my family, of course).
She helped me a lot during my pregnancy, once she found out. She loaned me a book, maternity clothes and gave me lots of advice. She was very supportive during all my pre-baby emotional breakdowns and always helped me feel better. I tried to convince myself I was having a girl because I wanted her daughter to have a "girlfriend" type of friendship like we had. I thought they could be like "Connie and Carla" and act out songs from Broadway musicals. Lo and behold, it wasn't meant to be, but I had a potential boyfriend for her daughter instead. :) She was the only friend (along with her husband) who came to visit after my older son was born. Her daughter immediately liked him the first time she met him. We had lots of playdates for the kids and they were instant friends.
E.S. was also one of the first friends I told when I found out we were moving to NJ. Her reaction is what spurned me to tell everyone at once via e-mail instead of having more cry fests. She was also the last friend I saw right before we left Illinois. (We all had dinner together the night before.) I was very sad to leave her behind, but time eventually heals all wounds and we knew that we'd have the phone and Internet to keep us connected. We also make sure to get together whenever my family and I come back to Chicago for visits. Since she's close friends with my sister, I always get to hear updates on her life that way too. During the summer of 2008, we hung out a few times and she got to meet my younger son, who took to her right away. He must have sensed that she was pregnant, long before I did (even though I got a hint when she ordered Sprite with her dinner). She came to visit us in the fall of 2008, along with my sister and another friend. We had a fun time hanging out and doing "girlfriend" things again (shopping, naturally). She also got to eat in our sukkah during that time. A few months later, she had her second child (another girl...a potential match for my other boy ;) ).
Nowadays, we still catch up online and I plan to spend time with her when we're in town again this summer. Our friendship has been more laid back lately (we comment on each other's Facebook posts, but haven't had much time to catch up otherwise), but there's also that comfortability with knowing that we're still part of each other's lives. I appreciate her friendship always. No matter what happens in the future or how often we get together or stay in touch, we'll always have motherhood to bond over...and Broadway too!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
With a Rebel Yell....
I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each others' blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
Charmingly Random chose this week's topic: Tell me about a time when you were rebellious - whether it be from your parents, a boss or even "The Man".
If you have only known me for the past few years, you would not think that I was ever rebellious. However, you'd be surprised...
Toward the end of my senior year of high school, I started going to see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Saturday nights. I eventually made friends with cast members and regulars and even got to be part of the cast for a while (as Magenta or a Transylvanian). I first became close with everyone during a weekend when my high school friends were fighting. I decided to participate in audience night (when people from the audience get to perform all the main parts). I was wearing a cute pink dress after hostessing at Yen Yen and decided to play Janet at the last minute. This entailed dancing around without much clothing. It was very liberating and I had the best time. Then I hung out with the cast afterward. We all went to The Rainbow, a greasy spoon diner. Twice when I looked up at the cash register, it said $6.66. That should have been a sign, but I ignored it and I'm glad I did. When I got back to school the following week, I told my friends what I did and one of them had the audacity to say that it was gross. (Ironically, she's the same ex-friend who was caught doing something very inappropriate in the school library a year later.) Still, nothing could take me down from the natural high I felt that night.
During the summer of 1994, we were moving from the first house I had ever really known (since I was too young to remember the one before that) and I was going to be starting college in the fall. I didn't want to be home much and would spend every Saturday at "Rocky Horror" and afterward at The Rainbow. Sometimes I'd stay out till dawn. I enjoyed the attention from the guys there (even the gay ones) and would spend hours on the phone with them when I wasn't at Rocky. I'd also hang out with some outside of our Saturday midnight gatherings. I was allowed to attend the shows each week, but my parents weren't thrilled if I stayed out all night or if I went by myself instead of with friends. However, my friends were people at the show and I trusted them. At the time, I didn't tell my parents about the guy from cast who was arrested for murder because then they'd never let me near the theater again. It's a non-issue now and he's probably locked up for life anyway. (After everyone at the theater found this out, we were more protective of each other.)
When I started dating my first boyfriend, I slipped out of the "Rocky Horror" scene for a while. Then I came back to it the following summer and made a new set of friends, as well as re-connected with the ones I already knew. By that time, it was no longer all that rebellious, as my parents were totally fine with me going every week.
However, I thought I'd find another way to try to freak my mom out and got my ear triple-pierced when I was about 20. Imagine my disappointment when she just said it looked pretty. Later, I got magnetic earrings and put them in spots of my ears that I would never actually pierce, just to see if she'd react. Again, it didn't bother her. I should have used them as nose pierces instead. Oh well...
I think my other big rebellious phase was toward the end of college, when I was dating a guy that my mom clearly didn't like. She tried forbidding me from seeing him, but that didn't deter me and only made me want to be with him more. She later gave up on that and then changed her mind back again a year or so later. I still wouldn't break up with him. I don't even know if I was still "into" the relationship at the time, but I was an adult and I stayed with him to prove that I could. It took "Will," along with some friends in relationships that I envied, to help me see that I was better off single. Needless to say, my mom was thrilled when I finally made the decision on my own.
Nowadays, I am not all that rebellious, unless you consider not shopping or driving on Saturday an act of rebellion against shopping malls everywhere. I had fun reminiscing about my rebellious phase through this post, but I'm glad I got it out of my system at the time and can enjoy my present choice of living.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
Charmingly Random chose this week's topic: Tell me about a time when you were rebellious - whether it be from your parents, a boss or even "The Man".
If you have only known me for the past few years, you would not think that I was ever rebellious. However, you'd be surprised...
Toward the end of my senior year of high school, I started going to see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Saturday nights. I eventually made friends with cast members and regulars and even got to be part of the cast for a while (as Magenta or a Transylvanian). I first became close with everyone during a weekend when my high school friends were fighting. I decided to participate in audience night (when people from the audience get to perform all the main parts). I was wearing a cute pink dress after hostessing at Yen Yen and decided to play Janet at the last minute. This entailed dancing around without much clothing. It was very liberating and I had the best time. Then I hung out with the cast afterward. We all went to The Rainbow, a greasy spoon diner. Twice when I looked up at the cash register, it said $6.66. That should have been a sign, but I ignored it and I'm glad I did. When I got back to school the following week, I told my friends what I did and one of them had the audacity to say that it was gross. (Ironically, she's the same ex-friend who was caught doing something very inappropriate in the school library a year later.) Still, nothing could take me down from the natural high I felt that night.
During the summer of 1994, we were moving from the first house I had ever really known (since I was too young to remember the one before that) and I was going to be starting college in the fall. I didn't want to be home much and would spend every Saturday at "Rocky Horror" and afterward at The Rainbow. Sometimes I'd stay out till dawn. I enjoyed the attention from the guys there (even the gay ones) and would spend hours on the phone with them when I wasn't at Rocky. I'd also hang out with some outside of our Saturday midnight gatherings. I was allowed to attend the shows each week, but my parents weren't thrilled if I stayed out all night or if I went by myself instead of with friends. However, my friends were people at the show and I trusted them. At the time, I didn't tell my parents about the guy from cast who was arrested for murder because then they'd never let me near the theater again. It's a non-issue now and he's probably locked up for life anyway. (After everyone at the theater found this out, we were more protective of each other.)
When I started dating my first boyfriend, I slipped out of the "Rocky Horror" scene for a while. Then I came back to it the following summer and made a new set of friends, as well as re-connected with the ones I already knew. By that time, it was no longer all that rebellious, as my parents were totally fine with me going every week.
However, I thought I'd find another way to try to freak my mom out and got my ear triple-pierced when I was about 20. Imagine my disappointment when she just said it looked pretty. Later, I got magnetic earrings and put them in spots of my ears that I would never actually pierce, just to see if she'd react. Again, it didn't bother her. I should have used them as nose pierces instead. Oh well...
I think my other big rebellious phase was toward the end of college, when I was dating a guy that my mom clearly didn't like. She tried forbidding me from seeing him, but that didn't deter me and only made me want to be with him more. She later gave up on that and then changed her mind back again a year or so later. I still wouldn't break up with him. I don't even know if I was still "into" the relationship at the time, but I was an adult and I stayed with him to prove that I could. It took "Will," along with some friends in relationships that I envied, to help me see that I was better off single. Needless to say, my mom was thrilled when I finally made the decision on my own.
Nowadays, I am not all that rebellious, unless you consider not shopping or driving on Saturday an act of rebellion against shopping malls everywhere. I had fun reminiscing about my rebellious phase through this post, but I'm glad I got it out of my system at the time and can enjoy my present choice of living.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Short on Time
June 13th, 2008
11:17 am - Sombering news
My dad called me yesterday to tell me that one of my mom's friends passed away this week. No one even knew she was sick.
My mom became friends with her when she was in her 20's. Then they both had daughters at around the same time (one of them being me). I remember that we spent a lot of time with my mom's friend and her daughter when I was little. This same friend would relay all my embarrassing stories to me as I got older. She was always really nice though. As time went by, she'd lose touch with my mom for a while and then resurface whenever she had big news or drama going on. She also helped plan my bridal shower. The last time I saw her was when Eitan turned 6 months old and she brought over a "newborn" gift for him (shows how on and off the scene she was), which was a beautiful blue and white crocheted blanket.
In her passing, she left behind 4 grown children (the oldest is the one my age) and some grandchildren, as well as her 2nd husband. It's sad to think about how quickly this all happened and how young and full of energy she always seemed to be. My husband even thought she was younger than her actual age.
This also made me think of how I need to be better about staying in touch with friends (at least those who want to reciprocate the contact), no matter where I am living. I used to think it was just my grandparents' friends who were dying and now it reaches into the realm of my parents' friends. I've lost acquaintances to death at a young age, but never anyone extremely close. I don't want to, obviously, but death is inevitable and sometimes more sudden than necessary. I would just prefer to wait till it's all about old age and not about sickness, accidents or other unfortunate ways of passing on. Sorry for the morbid talk.
Follow up: I found out the real reason behind my mom's friend's death a couple of days later. However, I don't feel at liberty to post that here in order to protect her family's privacy. I do still have the blanket she made for my older son. He sleeps with it on his bed every night and I think of her whenever I see it there. I remember getting emotional when she gave him the blanket because it reminded me of something my grandma would have made had she still been alive and well.
This post was brought out of hiding because death is something I face on almost a daily basis. Nothing to do with me personally, B"H. For my job, I have to browse the death notices from the Washington Post in order to see if anyone associated with our organization (whether in a big or small way) has passed away. In doing so, I come across all sorts of obituaries and memoriams. Some talk about celebrating their life and being taken home. Others are very sad and talk about how they were robbed of the individual. The worst are death notices for babies. I saw one yesterday and felt sickened by how sad it was. The infant was only one week old. I also see death notices for teenagers and young adults and it talks about their dreams and how they never had the chance to achieve them.
I also wanted to discuss this topic because I remember that this is around the time of year when someone who died should have been celebrating a birthday instead. I am not talking about my grandpa this time. When I was living in my second house (technically, but I don't really remember the first), I was friends with a girl across the cul-de-sac from us. She and I usually got together to play and hung out with our other neighbors too. Then she moved to California in 1987, along with our next-door neighbors from that time. I found one of the next-door neighbors on Facebook last year and then inquired if they were still in contact with her. Then I found out that she was killed in a car accident in 2005. I was shocked and saddened to receive such news. Partially because I only remembered her as 11 years old and partially because her life was cut short before she even got to turn 30. I later asked another friend/neighbor about her and found out what she was like as an adult. I learned that she owned a clothing store, had a great sense of humor and was always fun to be around. I would have liked to see a picture of her as an adult, but none were ever produced. I feel bad that we lost contact and hope to stay in contact better with other friends, no matter where they live. I love that Facebook is around and that there is the ability to connect (or reconnect) with so many people.
In regards to all this talk about death and people who have departed from life too early, I keep thinking about ways I can leave my mark on the world. I know I have a voice and I want it to be heard. I hope and pray for my loved ones and myself to live a long and healthy life, but know that it is short and I should live it up and cherish each day. I want to be able to live for all the people who weren't given that chance. That's an overwhelming and daunting task, but I believe that if I'm doing what I love and making myself happy, that's good enough for now.
11:17 am - Sombering news
My dad called me yesterday to tell me that one of my mom's friends passed away this week. No one even knew she was sick.
My mom became friends with her when she was in her 20's. Then they both had daughters at around the same time (one of them being me). I remember that we spent a lot of time with my mom's friend and her daughter when I was little. This same friend would relay all my embarrassing stories to me as I got older. She was always really nice though. As time went by, she'd lose touch with my mom for a while and then resurface whenever she had big news or drama going on. She also helped plan my bridal shower. The last time I saw her was when Eitan turned 6 months old and she brought over a "newborn" gift for him (shows how on and off the scene she was), which was a beautiful blue and white crocheted blanket.
In her passing, she left behind 4 grown children (the oldest is the one my age) and some grandchildren, as well as her 2nd husband. It's sad to think about how quickly this all happened and how young and full of energy she always seemed to be. My husband even thought she was younger than her actual age.
This also made me think of how I need to be better about staying in touch with friends (at least those who want to reciprocate the contact), no matter where I am living. I used to think it was just my grandparents' friends who were dying and now it reaches into the realm of my parents' friends. I've lost acquaintances to death at a young age, but never anyone extremely close. I don't want to, obviously, but death is inevitable and sometimes more sudden than necessary. I would just prefer to wait till it's all about old age and not about sickness, accidents or other unfortunate ways of passing on. Sorry for the morbid talk.
Follow up: I found out the real reason behind my mom's friend's death a couple of days later. However, I don't feel at liberty to post that here in order to protect her family's privacy. I do still have the blanket she made for my older son. He sleeps with it on his bed every night and I think of her whenever I see it there. I remember getting emotional when she gave him the blanket because it reminded me of something my grandma would have made had she still been alive and well.
This post was brought out of hiding because death is something I face on almost a daily basis. Nothing to do with me personally, B"H. For my job, I have to browse the death notices from the Washington Post in order to see if anyone associated with our organization (whether in a big or small way) has passed away. In doing so, I come across all sorts of obituaries and memoriams. Some talk about celebrating their life and being taken home. Others are very sad and talk about how they were robbed of the individual. The worst are death notices for babies. I saw one yesterday and felt sickened by how sad it was. The infant was only one week old. I also see death notices for teenagers and young adults and it talks about their dreams and how they never had the chance to achieve them.
I also wanted to discuss this topic because I remember that this is around the time of year when someone who died should have been celebrating a birthday instead. I am not talking about my grandpa this time. When I was living in my second house (technically, but I don't really remember the first), I was friends with a girl across the cul-de-sac from us. She and I usually got together to play and hung out with our other neighbors too. Then she moved to California in 1987, along with our next-door neighbors from that time. I found one of the next-door neighbors on Facebook last year and then inquired if they were still in contact with her. Then I found out that she was killed in a car accident in 2005. I was shocked and saddened to receive such news. Partially because I only remembered her as 11 years old and partially because her life was cut short before she even got to turn 30. I later asked another friend/neighbor about her and found out what she was like as an adult. I learned that she owned a clothing store, had a great sense of humor and was always fun to be around. I would have liked to see a picture of her as an adult, but none were ever produced. I feel bad that we lost contact and hope to stay in contact better with other friends, no matter where they live. I love that Facebook is around and that there is the ability to connect (or reconnect) with so many people.
In regards to all this talk about death and people who have departed from life too early, I keep thinking about ways I can leave my mark on the world. I know I have a voice and I want it to be heard. I hope and pray for my loved ones and myself to live a long and healthy life, but know that it is short and I should live it up and cherish each day. I want to be able to live for all the people who weren't given that chance. That's an overwhelming and daunting task, but I believe that if I'm doing what I love and making myself happy, that's good enough for now.
Friday, May 21, 2010
We'll always have Adam Lambert
This week's Friendship Friday post is about D.S. (the initials she goes by online).
I met D.S. in high school. I was a sophomore and she was a senior. She hung out with one of my close friends, so I saw her a lot. I thought she was nice, but we didn't hang out outside of school. We were more of acquaintances at the time.
After college, my friend and D.S. hung out a lot and I have admitted to her that I didn't trust her at the time. (There was a situation where my friend got sucked into a toxic friendship and this felt like a repeat of that situation.) Then my friend brought D.S. to hang out with our bowling group in 2001 or 2002 and I started to get to know her better. She was really nice and I didn't know why I was worried about losing my friend to her. Toward the end of 2002, I invited her to my annual Hanukkah party and we started becoming closer after that point. I went to her 30th birthday party in 2003. It was the first party I had seen her host and I was so impressed by how she made the party about everyone having a good time and being comfortable. We were e-mailing more often by this point and hanging out a lot, usually as part of a group.
When I had to give up one of my cats due to allergies, she bought me a stuffed animal version of that cat. I was so touched by that gesture. That summer, I introduced her to my favorite movie ("Where the Heart is," of course) and she loved it just as much. Later, we kept discovering more interests we had in common. In the fall of 2003, she and some other mutual friends got into a huge fight. She didn't try to put me in the middle, but she came to me about it first in hopes that I'd be able to resolve it. She eventually resolved it with them on her own, but it also brought us closer. We had girl's days out and would go out for lunch, a movie and shopping. We'd also send each other extremely long e-mails that we called novels (which we still do). She's been an anchor for me during different times of my life, as well.
Last year, D.S. and I both developed huge crushes on Adam Lambert. We constantly talk about him and share information with each other about when he'll be on TV or his magazine appearances. She even sent me some magazines he was in last year. I made her a huge Adam Lambert collage for her birthday and I can tell from the photos and videos that she appreciated the present. :)
D.S. has a variety of health problems that she has lived with her whole life, leading to a lot of surgeries to correct them. However, she is the most optimistic and cheerful person I know. She goes through phases where she's depressed, but it's usually more seasonal and she does what she can to stay positive and upbeat. She even threw herself a birthday party this past winter to raise her spirits. She's not allowed to work because of her health issues, but her life is like a pleasure cruise. She goes out all the time, whether it's for movies, musicals, meals, shopping, etc. She babysits her adorable nieces and makes her apartment like a camp for them. She's always cooking and making tasty desserts. She loves taking pictures of all the fun things she does and treats her nieces as if they were her own kids. Every Halloween, she throws a party and finds ways to keep everyone involved. No wallflowers allowed at her parties! She even threw a party for us the last time we were in town for a visit. It was such a thoughtful gesture!
We don't get to see each other as often, but I feel like she's right next door with how often we communicate. It's almost like no time has been lost between visits. I'm always introducing her to my other friends with whom she has something in common. I know they'll like her as much as I do! I hope she'll be able to tag along on a road trip to DC someday (or take a train, as she can't take a plane), as I want her to spend time in my home and also meet "Jack," so they can tease each other in person. No matter how sporadically we hang out in person these days, I feel like we're always connected. She's truly a "girlfriend" and I love how we can talk about frivolous things, as well as have serious discussions. Even when we're "Golden Girls," I know that we'll always have Adam Lambert. After all, he appeals to women of all generations!
I met D.S. in high school. I was a sophomore and she was a senior. She hung out with one of my close friends, so I saw her a lot. I thought she was nice, but we didn't hang out outside of school. We were more of acquaintances at the time.
After college, my friend and D.S. hung out a lot and I have admitted to her that I didn't trust her at the time. (There was a situation where my friend got sucked into a toxic friendship and this felt like a repeat of that situation.) Then my friend brought D.S. to hang out with our bowling group in 2001 or 2002 and I started to get to know her better. She was really nice and I didn't know why I was worried about losing my friend to her. Toward the end of 2002, I invited her to my annual Hanukkah party and we started becoming closer after that point. I went to her 30th birthday party in 2003. It was the first party I had seen her host and I was so impressed by how she made the party about everyone having a good time and being comfortable. We were e-mailing more often by this point and hanging out a lot, usually as part of a group.
When I had to give up one of my cats due to allergies, she bought me a stuffed animal version of that cat. I was so touched by that gesture. That summer, I introduced her to my favorite movie ("Where the Heart is," of course) and she loved it just as much. Later, we kept discovering more interests we had in common. In the fall of 2003, she and some other mutual friends got into a huge fight. She didn't try to put me in the middle, but she came to me about it first in hopes that I'd be able to resolve it. She eventually resolved it with them on her own, but it also brought us closer. We had girl's days out and would go out for lunch, a movie and shopping. We'd also send each other extremely long e-mails that we called novels (which we still do). She's been an anchor for me during different times of my life, as well.
Last year, D.S. and I both developed huge crushes on Adam Lambert. We constantly talk about him and share information with each other about when he'll be on TV or his magazine appearances. She even sent me some magazines he was in last year. I made her a huge Adam Lambert collage for her birthday and I can tell from the photos and videos that she appreciated the present. :)
D.S. has a variety of health problems that she has lived with her whole life, leading to a lot of surgeries to correct them. However, she is the most optimistic and cheerful person I know. She goes through phases where she's depressed, but it's usually more seasonal and she does what she can to stay positive and upbeat. She even threw herself a birthday party this past winter to raise her spirits. She's not allowed to work because of her health issues, but her life is like a pleasure cruise. She goes out all the time, whether it's for movies, musicals, meals, shopping, etc. She babysits her adorable nieces and makes her apartment like a camp for them. She's always cooking and making tasty desserts. She loves taking pictures of all the fun things she does and treats her nieces as if they were her own kids. Every Halloween, she throws a party and finds ways to keep everyone involved. No wallflowers allowed at her parties! She even threw a party for us the last time we were in town for a visit. It was such a thoughtful gesture!
We don't get to see each other as often, but I feel like she's right next door with how often we communicate. It's almost like no time has been lost between visits. I'm always introducing her to my other friends with whom she has something in common. I know they'll like her as much as I do! I hope she'll be able to tag along on a road trip to DC someday (or take a train, as she can't take a plane), as I want her to spend time in my home and also meet "Jack," so they can tease each other in person. No matter how sporadically we hang out in person these days, I feel like we're always connected. She's truly a "girlfriend" and I love how we can talk about frivolous things, as well as have serious discussions. Even when we're "Golden Girls," I know that we'll always have Adam Lambert. After all, he appeals to women of all generations!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Down and out in Merry-land
I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each others' blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
Desperate Madness asked: What is your favorite thing to do when you are down and out or having a bad day?
This may come as a surprise (or more like a shock to some) but I have bad days. I get into a funk from time to time. It happened a lot more often in my previous environment, but it still happens no matter where I go. These days it's often over trivial matters (like the untimely cancellation of "Ugly Betty" or not being able to get tickets to see Adam Lambert), but sometimes there are things that worry or nag at me, or things that I anticipate with dread. I also take on the stress of others and let it consume me. That's enough to put me in a bad mood for several days at a time.
I don't know that I have just one favorite thing to do when I get in one of these moods. My first instinct is to eat a bowl of ice cream smothered in Magic Shell. That's my favorite comfort food. However, I eat it when I'm in a good mood too. :) Other pick-me-up's include:
*Reading a good book, especially chick lit
*Listening to my favorite music (usually Adam Lambert, other times Alanis Morissette or Michael Buble)
*Watching a funny TV show (these days it is "Modern Family")
*Watching my number one favorite movie ("Where the Heart is"), which is also like comfort food, in a different way.
*Baking challah
*Going for my other comfort food: Chocolate!!!
Stuff you'd expect to see on the list isn't there, right? I left off being with my husband and kids and knitting. I love my husband and kids, but I sometimes take out my bad mood on them, which I know is wrong and I feel awful about. I'm a lot less lenient about letting my kids get away with mischief and I prefer to be in my own little world, lest I snap at my husband for something totally unrelated. Then again, sometimes his work-related stress is the source of my bad mood. He does watch "Modern Family" with me and we can joke about it afterward. Also, I just knit when I need a distraction from waiting (if I'm not in the mood to read at the time).
It doesn't take much to help me break out of a bad mood, since I seek happiness whenever possible. The stuff I lean toward when I'm sad or angry is the same stuff I like to do while I'm in a good mood, just like the ice cream and Magic Shell combo that works like a wonder drug.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
Desperate Madness asked: What is your favorite thing to do when you are down and out or having a bad day?
This may come as a surprise (or more like a shock to some) but I have bad days. I get into a funk from time to time. It happened a lot more often in my previous environment, but it still happens no matter where I go. These days it's often over trivial matters (like the untimely cancellation of "Ugly Betty" or not being able to get tickets to see Adam Lambert), but sometimes there are things that worry or nag at me, or things that I anticipate with dread. I also take on the stress of others and let it consume me. That's enough to put me in a bad mood for several days at a time.
I don't know that I have just one favorite thing to do when I get in one of these moods. My first instinct is to eat a bowl of ice cream smothered in Magic Shell. That's my favorite comfort food. However, I eat it when I'm in a good mood too. :) Other pick-me-up's include:
*Reading a good book, especially chick lit
*Listening to my favorite music (usually Adam Lambert, other times Alanis Morissette or Michael Buble)
*Watching a funny TV show (these days it is "Modern Family")
*Watching my number one favorite movie ("Where the Heart is"), which is also like comfort food, in a different way.
*Baking challah
*Going for my other comfort food: Chocolate!!!
Stuff you'd expect to see on the list isn't there, right? I left off being with my husband and kids and knitting. I love my husband and kids, but I sometimes take out my bad mood on them, which I know is wrong and I feel awful about. I'm a lot less lenient about letting my kids get away with mischief and I prefer to be in my own little world, lest I snap at my husband for something totally unrelated. Then again, sometimes his work-related stress is the source of my bad mood. He does watch "Modern Family" with me and we can joke about it afterward. Also, I just knit when I need a distraction from waiting (if I'm not in the mood to read at the time).
It doesn't take much to help me break out of a bad mood, since I seek happiness whenever possible. The stuff I lean toward when I'm sad or angry is the same stuff I like to do while I'm in a good mood, just like the ice cream and Magic Shell combo that works like a wonder drug.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Gotta love this American Ride
I recently heard "American Ride" by Toby Keith on the radio. That song always reminds me of my move to Maryland. I was able to listen to country music on the radio again and it kept coming on. It was fun and amusing. I also love the video for this song. It uses style similar to Jib-Jab. I just get a good feeling from it because it makes me think of settling in and making new friends and being overly satisfied with my new home and community.
"American Ride" also fits in with my love for songs about America. Not the classics that we had to memorize in grade school. The country songs that talk about the American way of life. Other titles that come to mind are "American Saturday Night" and "All-American Girl." I love anything that celebrates America. It's nice in the midst of so many people complaining about everything that is wrong with America. If that's the case, why not pack up and move overseas? It even bothers me when people complain about President Obama. He won by a landslide, which is better than the pathetic ways "Dubya" won the previous two elections. That means most of America wanted him in office. He's doing his best, so let's give him a break. He has a huge mess to clean up....8 years worth. It takes some people a long time to clean up their own messes from even a shorter period of time, and that's without the entire country watching their every move!
I love that we live so close to DC. It's so exciting to see the places where American history took place. I was thrilled to be able to set foot in the White House. I also love being able to see the Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives. I enjoy telling my kids that it is why we now have fireworks on the 4th of July.
That brings me to another point...I love the 4th of July. I dress in patriotic colors every year for the occasion. It's not just about the fireworks, which don't excite me as much as they used to. It's more about the feeling of American pride and the reminder of our freedom. I just love being American, whether it means going to baseball games, eating hot dogs, being a tourist in a new city, taking road trips, voting for the President, having a Memorial Day barbecue or watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
I really do love this American ride...
"American Ride" also fits in with my love for songs about America. Not the classics that we had to memorize in grade school. The country songs that talk about the American way of life. Other titles that come to mind are "American Saturday Night" and "All-American Girl." I love anything that celebrates America. It's nice in the midst of so many people complaining about everything that is wrong with America. If that's the case, why not pack up and move overseas? It even bothers me when people complain about President Obama. He won by a landslide, which is better than the pathetic ways "Dubya" won the previous two elections. That means most of America wanted him in office. He's doing his best, so let's give him a break. He has a huge mess to clean up....8 years worth. It takes some people a long time to clean up their own messes from even a shorter period of time, and that's without the entire country watching their every move!
I love that we live so close to DC. It's so exciting to see the places where American history took place. I was thrilled to be able to set foot in the White House. I also love being able to see the Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives. I enjoy telling my kids that it is why we now have fireworks on the 4th of July.
That brings me to another point...I love the 4th of July. I dress in patriotic colors every year for the occasion. It's not just about the fireworks, which don't excite me as much as they used to. It's more about the feeling of American pride and the reminder of our freedom. I just love being American, whether it means going to baseball games, eating hot dogs, being a tourist in a new city, taking road trips, voting for the President, having a Memorial Day barbecue or watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
I really do love this American ride...
Half-baked
I wrote this over two years ago and am looking to it now for motivation...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Baking away
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Food and Restaurants
Anyone who knows me knows that I have always loved baking desserts. Ever since I took home ec in junior high, I had a thing for baking. When I was on speech team in HS, I brought baked goods to almost every tournament. I even baked cookies and cakes for my friends' birthdays at various times. Today, I baked chocolate chip cookies. I know that sounds simple, but they're easy to mess up if one ingredient is out of place or if the oven isn't just the right temperature. Luckily, the cookies I made today came out perfect. (Oddly enough, the recipe said it made 5 dozen cookies and I only got 3 1/2 dozen.) I baked a cake from scratch a few weeks ago, and that was also a hit. My husband even said it was comparable to Zadie's (a really good Kosher bakery out here). I've decided that I'm going to be more experimental this year in baking. Sometimes I rely on a mix (and I probably still should sometimes because we have a zillion mixes), but I want to bake more desserts from scratch this year. I also want to try out new recipes, no matter how scary they look. I guess it's my "Bree" side coming out to play, but I enjoy the fulfillment that baking gives me. Especially when I get to taste the finished product. I'm baking the cake again tomorrow because I just liked it that much, but then I'm going to try some other recipes. Next on my list after this is hamentaschen. I need to find a good recipe for the dough and I want to make it ahead of time because I don't know if I'll be in the hospital closer to Purim, depending on when Eitan's future sibling wants to make their appearance (b'shaah tovah).
I think my inspiration to bake new items comes from reading "Good Grief" last year. The main character does a lot of baking and makes it sound fun. In any case, I'll be spending more time by the oven this year and will report on how things turn out.
Follow up:
I totally strayed from the path I tried to set for myself at the time I wrote this blog. Sure, I love to bake, but I go for the timeless classics over new and exciting and I still rely on mixes a lot. I tell people when I've used a mix because if I'm going to make something from scratch, I want it to be appreciated that much more. I enjoy making frozen desserts as much as baked ones. I just made one of my favorite dairy pie recipes for Shavuot. I'm excited to share it with everyone. Especially since the other two dessert items are from mixes. The hamentaschen I made earlier this year came out better than any of the batches from previous years. I've tried a couple of new recipes from scratch and resorted to a couple of favorites. The best new recipe is from my sister-in-law. It's a chocolate pie that is easy to make and tastes heavenly, like a baked cookie. Even better warm with ice cream on top! (Pareve on Shabbat, of course.) I make lots of pumpkin pie when pumpkin is available. I had some extra cans and made a cake using one of them. I even froze the rest of the pumpkin because it's such a rare commodity these days! Another item I like making from scratch is peanut butter balls. I received the recipe around the time I wrote the blog about baking and I make them occasionally. I savor them and you know you're special if I share any with you. That's how good they are! They take a lot of work though, but after a few frozen peanut butter balls, the effort is all worth it!
As far as mixes go, I'm always a fan of Duncan Hines chewy fudge brownies. I even mixed Ande's mint chips in for a pot-luck at work last week. I mix chocolate chips in at other times. I usually make cakes from mixes. I tend to stock up when they go on sale. And then there are the toffee bars, which require a caramel cake mix that can only be found in one store in Illinois. A friend of my parents will pick some up for me and I am grateful to her for that! She just gave my parents some more boxes recently and they sent me three. You can bet I'll be savoring those!
I bake challah by hand instead of using the bread machine, but I've always used fresh ingredients. It's much more satisfying to do by hand. Kneading is a great way to get out stress. I've recently gone back to the "Loaves of Love" method. From every freshly baked batch, I give one loaf of challah to a neighbor. I'm working my way down the block. :)
I'll always be a dessert person. I may not be able to decorate cakes as well as some of my talented friends, but I love sharing my favorite desserts with the people I care about! That is motivation in itself to keep on baking (or freezing).
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Baking away
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Food and Restaurants
Anyone who knows me knows that I have always loved baking desserts. Ever since I took home ec in junior high, I had a thing for baking. When I was on speech team in HS, I brought baked goods to almost every tournament. I even baked cookies and cakes for my friends' birthdays at various times. Today, I baked chocolate chip cookies. I know that sounds simple, but they're easy to mess up if one ingredient is out of place or if the oven isn't just the right temperature. Luckily, the cookies I made today came out perfect. (Oddly enough, the recipe said it made 5 dozen cookies and I only got 3 1/2 dozen.) I baked a cake from scratch a few weeks ago, and that was also a hit. My husband even said it was comparable to Zadie's (a really good Kosher bakery out here). I've decided that I'm going to be more experimental this year in baking. Sometimes I rely on a mix (and I probably still should sometimes because we have a zillion mixes), but I want to bake more desserts from scratch this year. I also want to try out new recipes, no matter how scary they look. I guess it's my "Bree" side coming out to play, but I enjoy the fulfillment that baking gives me. Especially when I get to taste the finished product. I'm baking the cake again tomorrow because I just liked it that much, but then I'm going to try some other recipes. Next on my list after this is hamentaschen. I need to find a good recipe for the dough and I want to make it ahead of time because I don't know if I'll be in the hospital closer to Purim, depending on when Eitan's future sibling wants to make their appearance (b'shaah tovah).
I think my inspiration to bake new items comes from reading "Good Grief" last year. The main character does a lot of baking and makes it sound fun. In any case, I'll be spending more time by the oven this year and will report on how things turn out.
Follow up:
I totally strayed from the path I tried to set for myself at the time I wrote this blog. Sure, I love to bake, but I go for the timeless classics over new and exciting and I still rely on mixes a lot. I tell people when I've used a mix because if I'm going to make something from scratch, I want it to be appreciated that much more. I enjoy making frozen desserts as much as baked ones. I just made one of my favorite dairy pie recipes for Shavuot. I'm excited to share it with everyone. Especially since the other two dessert items are from mixes. The hamentaschen I made earlier this year came out better than any of the batches from previous years. I've tried a couple of new recipes from scratch and resorted to a couple of favorites. The best new recipe is from my sister-in-law. It's a chocolate pie that is easy to make and tastes heavenly, like a baked cookie. Even better warm with ice cream on top! (Pareve on Shabbat, of course.) I make lots of pumpkin pie when pumpkin is available. I had some extra cans and made a cake using one of them. I even froze the rest of the pumpkin because it's such a rare commodity these days! Another item I like making from scratch is peanut butter balls. I received the recipe around the time I wrote the blog about baking and I make them occasionally. I savor them and you know you're special if I share any with you. That's how good they are! They take a lot of work though, but after a few frozen peanut butter balls, the effort is all worth it!
As far as mixes go, I'm always a fan of Duncan Hines chewy fudge brownies. I even mixed Ande's mint chips in for a pot-luck at work last week. I mix chocolate chips in at other times. I usually make cakes from mixes. I tend to stock up when they go on sale. And then there are the toffee bars, which require a caramel cake mix that can only be found in one store in Illinois. A friend of my parents will pick some up for me and I am grateful to her for that! She just gave my parents some more boxes recently and they sent me three. You can bet I'll be savoring those!
I bake challah by hand instead of using the bread machine, but I've always used fresh ingredients. It's much more satisfying to do by hand. Kneading is a great way to get out stress. I've recently gone back to the "Loaves of Love" method. From every freshly baked batch, I give one loaf of challah to a neighbor. I'm working my way down the block. :)
I'll always be a dessert person. I may not be able to decorate cakes as well as some of my talented friends, but I love sharing my favorite desserts with the people I care about! That is motivation in itself to keep on baking (or freezing).
Monday, May 17, 2010
Let's get Together, yeah, yeah, yeah....
Yesterday, my sons were entertaining each other outside while my husband and I entertained some friends inside. Watching them made me flash back to when my sister and I were kids and used to act out "The Parent Trap" (Hayley Mills version, of course) in the backyard of our mom's manicurist's house. That would keep us entertained for at least an hour, while we recited all the lines of the film and played various parts. For the main roles, I was always Sharon and she was always Susan. She had short hair and both our personalities fit the roles we were playing. We'd then act out the movie in our house or at a nearby park (if it was just the two of us). In the past, there were other movies and TV shows we'd act out, ranging from "Annie" to "Cagney and Lacey." The world was our stage (or at least the balcony at our timeshare in Florida). Other times, we used our Barbies or Cabbage Patch Kids as the actors. "Back to the Future" was fun to act out with them. We used Peaches and Cream Barbie's dress for Lorraine's Enchantment Under the Sea dress. After we started getting into musicals, we'd sing along with a lot of the soundtracks. For a while it was "Les Miserables" and we'd joke about a version of a song from a highlights CD. When I drove her home from high school every day, we'd listen to the soundtrack for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and sing along. We'd even have friends in the car who would join in our sing-alongs! As we got older (college age), we would sing the entire "Rent" soundtrack in the car when we were home on school breaks. As an adult, I would do these Broadway sing-alongs with "Jack," but it was different than with my sister. Still fun...just different.
We were older than my boys currently are when we got the acting "bug," but it's fun to watch their imaginations come into play, even if they make us blow out a piece of chalk over and over again because it's supposed to be a candle. I wonder if they'll act out their favorite movies in the future.
We were older than my boys currently are when we got the acting "bug," but it's fun to watch their imaginations come into play, even if they make us blow out a piece of chalk over and over again because it's supposed to be a candle. I wonder if they'll act out their favorite movies in the future.
See me....
On last week's episode of "Glee," Shue asked everyone to come up with a song about how they see themselves. The next night, I watched a video made by Emily Giffin about a bunch of things people didn't know about her. She used it as a way to brag, but I thought it was fun and cute. It's nice to be that self-actualized. I've been using my blog as a way to become more self-actualized, as well.
A few months ago, one of my blog project friends came up with the idea to have everyone ask three friends (we've known for different lengths of time) how they see us and how they think we see ourselves. The topic ended falling by the wayside and since I feel like it will never be used for the blog project, I am going to talk about it now.
The two friends who have known me for a long time (one for 16 1/2 years and one for 7 years) both said I see myself as a good wife and mother. While I do love being both, it piques my interest that people think I see myself in such a way. Especially people with whom I consider myself to be close friends. It just shows that I have actualized myself into two such roles. I started this blog because I thought I was losing myself in both roles and wanted to just talk about what makes me, well....me! It's true that being married and having children has definitely defined some facets of my life. My husband and kids bring out new things about me that I might not have thought were there otherwise. I still feel like my husband has a lot to learn about me and that I can surprise him even after 8 years as a couple. And it's fun to be able to tell my older son about who I was before he came along. I love showing him pictures of me during different stages of my life. My younger son's quirkiness reminds me of all the quirks and hang-ups I had while growing up and sometimes have nowadays.
All three friends I "interviewed" (the third being someone I've only known for a little over a year) have told me in some way or another that I am fun, friendly and welcoming. They see me as reliable and someone with whom they can easy get along. I won't lie...all the responses I received were very positive. I wasn't even fishing because I didn't come up with the questions. The friend who has known me 7 years talked about how I like to bring my friends together. I know I was doing this with the blog project. I have done it during many other times of my life, whether it was bringing together high school and college friends, work friends and lifelong friends, friends from different states and countries, etc. If I feel that people should meet, I'll find a way. This 7 year friend hosts parties and makes sure no one is left out. I do the same thing. I can't entertain everyone all the time, but I make sure to bring together a group that could entertain each other. I am always open to making new friends. My 1 year friend is someone I connected with through my sister. When my family was visiting us in NJ, my sister invited her over to hang out and I then invited her to stay for Shabbat dinner (she's not Jewish, but it didn't matter). After that time, she and I went to movies and hung out occasionally. We got to know each other during the span of a few short months. My older son has a crush on her, so he usually came with us. I felt like I had found another "girlfriend" even though I wouldn't get to see her as often once I moved.
I'm open to meeting new people and making lots of connections. I even tried to help a new couple fit in to my previous community, about a month before we moved out here. I still do that in our current community, even though we're pretty new ourselves. I also help integrate people from my new community into my previous community, if I find out that they are moving to that area. I enjoy hosting big group meals for Shabbat lunch and friendly gatherings on Shabbat afternoon/evening. In terms of friendships, my college and adult years have completely made up for my lack of a social life in junior high and high school.
As for how I truly see myself:
*I think that I am nice, almost to a fault. I like to do nice things for people out of the goodness of my heart. No ulterior motive necessary!
*I do have a mean streak that's reserved for people who truly piss me off. So all you parents who abuse and neglect your children to the point of death...you don't want to meet me if you know what's good for you!
*I like to have fun and take pleasure in the simple things that can easily make me happy.
*I love to read. I know that's pretty obvious, but I've always been that way. I'm never without a book. I wrote a monologue in high school that was based upon the fact that I am a bookaholic. I even started a group on Facebook to talk about chick lit.
*Working on this blog has reminded me how much I love to write. I'm considering writing a fictional short story for a contest.
*I get starstruck and silly when I meet celebrities. I'm sure Kevin Smith thinks I'm the biggest dork ever.
*Oh yeah, I'm not afraid to admit that I have a dorky side.
*I'm a movie buff and love talking about pop culture. My 16 1/2 year friend calls me the pop culture queen.
*I'm amazingly good with driving directions. I can even visualize where someone is without using a map.
*I also love to sing. I am a walking soundtrack. I sing everything from pop to country to Broadway and even toss in some Disney tunes for my kids. (Who am I kidding...they're for me too!) I don't have a chance of getting on "American Idol" because of my age and I'm sure there are others who are better than me, but singing makes me feel good and the voice lessons from high school have paid off!
*I tend to procrastinate, which is why I still have blogs waiting to be written in my drafts folder. I also seem to be waiting for winter to roll around before I finish the scarf I'm knitting. And who needs to clean the house when the Internet is available 24/7?!?
I'm sure there are other things I will think of after this is posted, but I'll just save them for future posts!
Then there's the blog project itself. I came up with the idea and am enjoying the topics people come up with, as well as coming up with topics every few weeks. I find it to be another opportunity for self-actualization. I have other blog themes throughout the week: Time Warp Tuesday and Friendship Friday. I look forward to writing posts for all three "regular" blog themes (including the project). I think I'm going to take this blog to a new level of self actualization and write more fun posts where I can do anything from filling out questionnaires, talking about my likes/dislikes, sharing memories, etc. So, stay tuned!
A few months ago, one of my blog project friends came up with the idea to have everyone ask three friends (we've known for different lengths of time) how they see us and how they think we see ourselves. The topic ended falling by the wayside and since I feel like it will never be used for the blog project, I am going to talk about it now.
The two friends who have known me for a long time (one for 16 1/2 years and one for 7 years) both said I see myself as a good wife and mother. While I do love being both, it piques my interest that people think I see myself in such a way. Especially people with whom I consider myself to be close friends. It just shows that I have actualized myself into two such roles. I started this blog because I thought I was losing myself in both roles and wanted to just talk about what makes me, well....me! It's true that being married and having children has definitely defined some facets of my life. My husband and kids bring out new things about me that I might not have thought were there otherwise. I still feel like my husband has a lot to learn about me and that I can surprise him even after 8 years as a couple. And it's fun to be able to tell my older son about who I was before he came along. I love showing him pictures of me during different stages of my life. My younger son's quirkiness reminds me of all the quirks and hang-ups I had while growing up and sometimes have nowadays.
All three friends I "interviewed" (the third being someone I've only known for a little over a year) have told me in some way or another that I am fun, friendly and welcoming. They see me as reliable and someone with whom they can easy get along. I won't lie...all the responses I received were very positive. I wasn't even fishing because I didn't come up with the questions. The friend who has known me 7 years talked about how I like to bring my friends together. I know I was doing this with the blog project. I have done it during many other times of my life, whether it was bringing together high school and college friends, work friends and lifelong friends, friends from different states and countries, etc. If I feel that people should meet, I'll find a way. This 7 year friend hosts parties and makes sure no one is left out. I do the same thing. I can't entertain everyone all the time, but I make sure to bring together a group that could entertain each other. I am always open to making new friends. My 1 year friend is someone I connected with through my sister. When my family was visiting us in NJ, my sister invited her over to hang out and I then invited her to stay for Shabbat dinner (she's not Jewish, but it didn't matter). After that time, she and I went to movies and hung out occasionally. We got to know each other during the span of a few short months. My older son has a crush on her, so he usually came with us. I felt like I had found another "girlfriend" even though I wouldn't get to see her as often once I moved.
I'm open to meeting new people and making lots of connections. I even tried to help a new couple fit in to my previous community, about a month before we moved out here. I still do that in our current community, even though we're pretty new ourselves. I also help integrate people from my new community into my previous community, if I find out that they are moving to that area. I enjoy hosting big group meals for Shabbat lunch and friendly gatherings on Shabbat afternoon/evening. In terms of friendships, my college and adult years have completely made up for my lack of a social life in junior high and high school.
As for how I truly see myself:
*I think that I am nice, almost to a fault. I like to do nice things for people out of the goodness of my heart. No ulterior motive necessary!
*I do have a mean streak that's reserved for people who truly piss me off. So all you parents who abuse and neglect your children to the point of death...you don't want to meet me if you know what's good for you!
*I like to have fun and take pleasure in the simple things that can easily make me happy.
*I love to read. I know that's pretty obvious, but I've always been that way. I'm never without a book. I wrote a monologue in high school that was based upon the fact that I am a bookaholic. I even started a group on Facebook to talk about chick lit.
*Working on this blog has reminded me how much I love to write. I'm considering writing a fictional short story for a contest.
*I get starstruck and silly when I meet celebrities. I'm sure Kevin Smith thinks I'm the biggest dork ever.
*Oh yeah, I'm not afraid to admit that I have a dorky side.
*I'm a movie buff and love talking about pop culture. My 16 1/2 year friend calls me the pop culture queen.
*I'm amazingly good with driving directions. I can even visualize where someone is without using a map.
*I also love to sing. I am a walking soundtrack. I sing everything from pop to country to Broadway and even toss in some Disney tunes for my kids. (Who am I kidding...they're for me too!) I don't have a chance of getting on "American Idol" because of my age and I'm sure there are others who are better than me, but singing makes me feel good and the voice lessons from high school have paid off!
*I tend to procrastinate, which is why I still have blogs waiting to be written in my drafts folder. I also seem to be waiting for winter to roll around before I finish the scarf I'm knitting. And who needs to clean the house when the Internet is available 24/7?!?
I'm sure there are other things I will think of after this is posted, but I'll just save them for future posts!
Then there's the blog project itself. I came up with the idea and am enjoying the topics people come up with, as well as coming up with topics every few weeks. I find it to be another opportunity for self-actualization. I have other blog themes throughout the week: Time Warp Tuesday and Friendship Friday. I look forward to writing posts for all three "regular" blog themes (including the project). I think I'm going to take this blog to a new level of self actualization and write more fun posts where I can do anything from filling out questionnaires, talking about my likes/dislikes, sharing memories, etc. So, stay tuned!
Friday, May 14, 2010
We'll always have Target
This week’s Friendship Friday post is about L.R.
I met L.R. on MySpace in 2007. She came up a bunch of times on my high school alumni’s page, so I checked out her page. It turned out that she went to the same high school and college as I did (different years though) and moved to NY around the same time I moved to NJ. I e-mailed her to share these fun facts and found out that she lived down the road from us in Illinois. Coincidence? I was surprised we had never run into each other since we both frequently ate at Yen Yen and Lou Malnati’s.
A few weeks later, she came out to meet me in NJ and we had a fun girl’s day at the mall. We got to know each other better during that time. A few months later, she met up with my husband and me in NYC and we just got coffee and walked around trying to find a place that had billiards. In January of 2008, she came over to visit and finally got to meet my older son. She was even so kind as to get him a gift. She won him over immediately! That afternoon, we went to Target and it was like taking her to an amusement park. She doesn’t get to go to Target that often since she lives in the city, so she had fun stocking up on what she needed. I got a new joy out of going to Target (a regular thing for me) by seeing it though her eyes. (Although I suppose I’m the same way when I go to Wal-Mart when I’m in Illinois.) After that, it was hard to coordinate schedules very often. She came up to NJ for another Target day in June and got to meet my younger son. Then my older son and I had lunch with her in August when we were in the city. After that, we didn’t see her until December, when we had a latke and pizza party at her apartment.
Last year, we also only hung out a handful of times. Once for another Target day and once to have her over for Shabbat lunch. L.R. is a chef, but we wanted to cook a meal for her. She’s usually cooking enough for her job, so we thought she’d enjoy letting someone else do the work. We were glad to have her over for a meal and brought out our best work in an aim to impress. She’s also the one who gave me the fabulous challah recipe which I make all the time.
L.R. is a strong female figure in my life. I admire her thirst for adventure and ability to just pick up and move without a second thought. She knows what she wants and goes for it. She reminds me of the girls on “Sex and the City.” She knows how to go out and have a good time and isn’t sitting and waiting around for Prince Charming. Every time I go to her Facebook page, she has new pictures of something fun she did with her friends. I love that she had the ambition to become a chef and just went for it. I wish her success in her career. I’m glad I became friends with her in such an interesting way. She is incredibly sweet and a lot of fun to talk to. Her friendship has enriched my life.
She was one of my few real “girlfriends” when I lived in NJ and I was sad to leave her behind when I moved. I just hope she’ll “follow” us again and move to DC someday. Until then, she knows she’s always welcome for a visit and that we’d love to see her again. No matter how far apart we live or where our lives take us, we’ll always have Target!
I met L.R. on MySpace in 2007. She came up a bunch of times on my high school alumni’s page, so I checked out her page. It turned out that she went to the same high school and college as I did (different years though) and moved to NY around the same time I moved to NJ. I e-mailed her to share these fun facts and found out that she lived down the road from us in Illinois. Coincidence? I was surprised we had never run into each other since we both frequently ate at Yen Yen and Lou Malnati’s.
A few weeks later, she came out to meet me in NJ and we had a fun girl’s day at the mall. We got to know each other better during that time. A few months later, she met up with my husband and me in NYC and we just got coffee and walked around trying to find a place that had billiards. In January of 2008, she came over to visit and finally got to meet my older son. She was even so kind as to get him a gift. She won him over immediately! That afternoon, we went to Target and it was like taking her to an amusement park. She doesn’t get to go to Target that often since she lives in the city, so she had fun stocking up on what she needed. I got a new joy out of going to Target (a regular thing for me) by seeing it though her eyes. (Although I suppose I’m the same way when I go to Wal-Mart when I’m in Illinois.) After that, it was hard to coordinate schedules very often. She came up to NJ for another Target day in June and got to meet my younger son. Then my older son and I had lunch with her in August when we were in the city. After that, we didn’t see her until December, when we had a latke and pizza party at her apartment.
Last year, we also only hung out a handful of times. Once for another Target day and once to have her over for Shabbat lunch. L.R. is a chef, but we wanted to cook a meal for her. She’s usually cooking enough for her job, so we thought she’d enjoy letting someone else do the work. We were glad to have her over for a meal and brought out our best work in an aim to impress. She’s also the one who gave me the fabulous challah recipe which I make all the time.
L.R. is a strong female figure in my life. I admire her thirst for adventure and ability to just pick up and move without a second thought. She knows what she wants and goes for it. She reminds me of the girls on “Sex and the City.” She knows how to go out and have a good time and isn’t sitting and waiting around for Prince Charming. Every time I go to her Facebook page, she has new pictures of something fun she did with her friends. I love that she had the ambition to become a chef and just went for it. I wish her success in her career. I’m glad I became friends with her in such an interesting way. She is incredibly sweet and a lot of fun to talk to. Her friendship has enriched my life.
She was one of my few real “girlfriends” when I lived in NJ and I was sad to leave her behind when I moved. I just hope she’ll “follow” us again and move to DC someday. Until then, she knows she’s always welcome for a visit and that we’d love to see her again. No matter how far apart we live or where our lives take us, we’ll always have Target!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
No one calls me Missy!
I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each others' blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
This week, Froggie gave us just one word for the topic: Nicknames!
I first have to point out that I never have been and never will be called Missy. The name doesn't fit me at all. I know people named Melissa that have proudly gone by Missy but later changed it back. I just can't bring myself to be called Missy. In college, this one guy who worked in the kitchen of the dining center with me called me Missy and found it funny when I said "No one calls me Missy!" I must have sounded like I meant business. There are other guys who have tried to call me Missy and I just shoot a name they don't like right back at them. So yes, I do mean business!
However, there are names I have gone by or will still allow people to use:
Nicole: When I was a freshman in high school, a friend thought my name was Nicole. It took me a while to figure out that she thought this and couldn't figure out why she kept saying Nicole and looking at me. I actually didn't mind and felt like it was an inside joke and a way of being accepted. Years later, she apologized for the name mix-up but I told her that it never bothered me and I felt special by her giving me a nickname of sorts.
Mel: Very few friends call me Mel. Froggie is one such friend. I have another friend who lives in Nebraska and is allowed to use the name too. I also had a friend from Hebrew school who took to calling me Mel and I didn't mind then either. It fits me better than Missy.
Melly: Only two friends are allowed to call me Melly. We have these nicknames for each other that only make sense to us. Melly is probably the most simplistic of the three names, but it's all in good fun. I even sign my e-mails to them with that name.
Magenta: I got this from my Rocky Horror days, when I played Magenta in stage shows all because I had the hair. :) I went with that nickname throughout college and let my friends use it. A friend's mother even called me Magenta. I just didn't like when people I wasn't close with used it because they heard my friends doing it. It just felt wrong. I used the name for my first website, some e-mail addresses, and in chat rooms.
Eema: Sure, my kids call me that, but so do their friends. I feel more connected to their friends that way. It's kind of like how my friends called my grandma Mama Mollie, just like I did. It all started when one of Eitan's friends in NJ thought Eema was my name and kept calling me that. People thought I was her mom. Then our next door neighbor's daughter caught on and also started calling my husband Eeba (instead of Abba).
And finally, I'm now known as Merryland Girl in our blog project circle. :)
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
This week, Froggie gave us just one word for the topic: Nicknames!
I first have to point out that I never have been and never will be called Missy. The name doesn't fit me at all. I know people named Melissa that have proudly gone by Missy but later changed it back. I just can't bring myself to be called Missy. In college, this one guy who worked in the kitchen of the dining center with me called me Missy and found it funny when I said "No one calls me Missy!" I must have sounded like I meant business. There are other guys who have tried to call me Missy and I just shoot a name they don't like right back at them. So yes, I do mean business!
However, there are names I have gone by or will still allow people to use:
Nicole: When I was a freshman in high school, a friend thought my name was Nicole. It took me a while to figure out that she thought this and couldn't figure out why she kept saying Nicole and looking at me. I actually didn't mind and felt like it was an inside joke and a way of being accepted. Years later, she apologized for the name mix-up but I told her that it never bothered me and I felt special by her giving me a nickname of sorts.
Mel: Very few friends call me Mel. Froggie is one such friend. I have another friend who lives in Nebraska and is allowed to use the name too. I also had a friend from Hebrew school who took to calling me Mel and I didn't mind then either. It fits me better than Missy.
Melly: Only two friends are allowed to call me Melly. We have these nicknames for each other that only make sense to us. Melly is probably the most simplistic of the three names, but it's all in good fun. I even sign my e-mails to them with that name.
Magenta: I got this from my Rocky Horror days, when I played Magenta in stage shows all because I had the hair. :) I went with that nickname throughout college and let my friends use it. A friend's mother even called me Magenta. I just didn't like when people I wasn't close with used it because they heard my friends doing it. It just felt wrong. I used the name for my first website, some e-mail addresses, and in chat rooms.
Eema: Sure, my kids call me that, but so do their friends. I feel more connected to their friends that way. It's kind of like how my friends called my grandma Mama Mollie, just like I did. It all started when one of Eitan's friends in NJ thought Eema was my name and kept calling me that. People thought I was her mom. Then our next door neighbor's daughter caught on and also started calling my husband Eeba (instead of Abba).
And finally, I'm now known as Merryland Girl in our blog project circle. :)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A Little Less Conversation....
I've been thinking about Las Vegas a lot and decided to post this oldie, but goodie. :) Keep in mind that this is before we started our Shomer Shabbos rules and also before I gave up non-Kosher meat. (My husband had given it up by that time.)
March 7th, 2006
03:28 pm - Viva Las Vegas!
I know I've been quiet lately. The craziness never stops!
This year, I broke away from my Oscar watching tradition...
We went to Vegas this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary (a week early, but my husband has to photograph a wedding next weekend). We packed a lot of activity into a few days.
Friday: We arrived at 9 am and checked into our hotel. Then, as we were heading to lunch, this lady invited us to view a timeshare and said she would give us a free dinner and show for doing so. So we signed up for it and then went to lunch. The timeshare was beautiful, but we don't see the point of spending that much a year for something we can only use one week out of the year. Three people tried convincing us otherwise, but we stood our ground and still got the tickets and meal we were promised. Afterwards, we walked along the strip and went into a few hotels. Then we walked all the way back to the Stratosphere (where we were staying). It took over an hour to get there. At night, we ate at Top of the World (like the Signature Room, but it rotates) and then saw a really funny "adult" hypnosis show.
Saturday: We went to the Paris hotel for crepes. Then we walked to MGM and came back to Paris for massages. Later, we walked around Venetian and Wynn. (Wynn is the newest hotel and is very pretty, but doesn't really have a theme.) At night, we went to Chicago Joe's for dinner. It's downtown and somewhat out of the way, but worth going to. It had really good Italian food and a romantic atmosphere. Afterward, we saw The Amazing Johnathan. However, most of his show was what we saw last time. He's still funny though. My husband got to gamble for a while too.
Sunday: We picked up our free show tickets (for V) at the Aladdin. Then we went to NY NY, Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. We made plans with another couple we're friends with and they picked us up at Mandalay. We went for lunch and then to Ethel M's chocolate factory tour. It wasn't much of a tour, but we got free chocolate samples. The pecan brittle is fabulous! Later, we got dropped off at the Mirage and we walked around there, went to the forum shops at Caesar's for a while, and then got gelato at the Venetian. Then we went back to our hotel and got ready for the evening. We saw "V" at the Aladdin, which was a fun variety show. There was a lot of humor in it, but no female performers. Then we had dinner (the free meal from the timeshare) at La Salsa Cantina. It was really good. Afterward, we walked around and my husband took a lot of pics. We saw the Bellagio fountains (I still get good chills from thinking about them) and the volcano at the Mirage.
Yesterday, we had time to pick up a few souvenirs and then we went to the airport. We didn't get home till late last night and then we stayed at my parents' house for another hour before taking Eitan home.
I definitely missed Eitan while we were there. It was hard seeing other people with babies. I did get to catch up on sleep, but I kept thinking of all the things Eitan would have enjoyed if we had brought him with. I know he would have loved the fountains at the Bellagio too.
Next time, we're staying closer in on the strip. The walking was tiring and the transportation was either slow or expensive.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and memorable trip. Definitely worth missing the Oscars for. I plan to post some pics as soon as they're processed.
Follow up:
I can only imagine that I'd plan a trip to Vegas nowadays based on being Modern Orthodox. I'd have to go on weekdays so that I didn't have to worry about Shabbos. I'd be more particular about where to eat, as well. Still, I miss being there and would love to go again. In any case, the only vacations we've taken have been trips to visit family members who live out of state. We haven't taken a trip with the boys that would involve exploring new places. I'd be happy just to take them camping at this point. Or even for a fun getaway at a Wolf Lodge type place. I was telling a friend that I envy people who are able to take their kids on lots of fun vacations. Who knows when mine will see Walt Disney World? My parents presented us with an option to stay at a timeshare and go to WDW with them, but there's still the cost of transportation and the park is expensive too.
I'd also like to be able to go on another getaway with my husband. I miss our honeymoon and how relaxing it was to lounge by the pool all day or rest in a hammock, as well as drink as many cool alcoholic concoctions as we wanted. I also miss going on cruises. And of course, I'd love to get back to Vegas.
For now, I am looking forward to seeing family and friends this summer and hope to plan a vacation for just us (as well as for the kids) in the future. It would be really nice.
March 7th, 2006
03:28 pm - Viva Las Vegas!
I know I've been quiet lately. The craziness never stops!
This year, I broke away from my Oscar watching tradition...
We went to Vegas this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary (a week early, but my husband has to photograph a wedding next weekend). We packed a lot of activity into a few days.
Friday: We arrived at 9 am and checked into our hotel. Then, as we were heading to lunch, this lady invited us to view a timeshare and said she would give us a free dinner and show for doing so. So we signed up for it and then went to lunch. The timeshare was beautiful, but we don't see the point of spending that much a year for something we can only use one week out of the year. Three people tried convincing us otherwise, but we stood our ground and still got the tickets and meal we were promised. Afterwards, we walked along the strip and went into a few hotels. Then we walked all the way back to the Stratosphere (where we were staying). It took over an hour to get there. At night, we ate at Top of the World (like the Signature Room, but it rotates) and then saw a really funny "adult" hypnosis show.
Saturday: We went to the Paris hotel for crepes. Then we walked to MGM and came back to Paris for massages. Later, we walked around Venetian and Wynn. (Wynn is the newest hotel and is very pretty, but doesn't really have a theme.) At night, we went to Chicago Joe's for dinner. It's downtown and somewhat out of the way, but worth going to. It had really good Italian food and a romantic atmosphere. Afterward, we saw The Amazing Johnathan. However, most of his show was what we saw last time. He's still funny though. My husband got to gamble for a while too.
Sunday: We picked up our free show tickets (for V) at the Aladdin. Then we went to NY NY, Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. We made plans with another couple we're friends with and they picked us up at Mandalay. We went for lunch and then to Ethel M's chocolate factory tour. It wasn't much of a tour, but we got free chocolate samples. The pecan brittle is fabulous! Later, we got dropped off at the Mirage and we walked around there, went to the forum shops at Caesar's for a while, and then got gelato at the Venetian. Then we went back to our hotel and got ready for the evening. We saw "V" at the Aladdin, which was a fun variety show. There was a lot of humor in it, but no female performers. Then we had dinner (the free meal from the timeshare) at La Salsa Cantina. It was really good. Afterward, we walked around and my husband took a lot of pics. We saw the Bellagio fountains (I still get good chills from thinking about them) and the volcano at the Mirage.
Yesterday, we had time to pick up a few souvenirs and then we went to the airport. We didn't get home till late last night and then we stayed at my parents' house for another hour before taking Eitan home.
I definitely missed Eitan while we were there. It was hard seeing other people with babies. I did get to catch up on sleep, but I kept thinking of all the things Eitan would have enjoyed if we had brought him with. I know he would have loved the fountains at the Bellagio too.
Next time, we're staying closer in on the strip. The walking was tiring and the transportation was either slow or expensive.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and memorable trip. Definitely worth missing the Oscars for. I plan to post some pics as soon as they're processed.
Follow up:
I can only imagine that I'd plan a trip to Vegas nowadays based on being Modern Orthodox. I'd have to go on weekdays so that I didn't have to worry about Shabbos. I'd be more particular about where to eat, as well. Still, I miss being there and would love to go again. In any case, the only vacations we've taken have been trips to visit family members who live out of state. We haven't taken a trip with the boys that would involve exploring new places. I'd be happy just to take them camping at this point. Or even for a fun getaway at a Wolf Lodge type place. I was telling a friend that I envy people who are able to take their kids on lots of fun vacations. Who knows when mine will see Walt Disney World? My parents presented us with an option to stay at a timeshare and go to WDW with them, but there's still the cost of transportation and the park is expensive too.
I'd also like to be able to go on another getaway with my husband. I miss our honeymoon and how relaxing it was to lounge by the pool all day or rest in a hammock, as well as drink as many cool alcoholic concoctions as we wanted. I also miss going on cruises. And of course, I'd love to get back to Vegas.
For now, I am looking forward to seeing family and friends this summer and hope to plan a vacation for just us (as well as for the kids) in the future. It would be really nice.
Friday, May 7, 2010
We'll always have that family connection...
This week’s Friendship Friday post is a special one in honor of Mother’s day. I’ve decided to write about my friendship with my mom. I think about this a lot because I’m always telling my older son how he’s my best friend and thinking that it stems from a connection I’ve created with my mom over time.
I could start from the basics and say that I’ve known my mom since birth. From that time until I got to high school, she just played the role of “Mom,” the authority figure in the house. My sister played the role of “friend” as we were growing up, but my mom was just that...my mom. Sure, we had lots of good times together, but I never considered seeing her in the role of “friend” before. When I was in high school, the first signs of friendship arrived when she started watching “Ren and Stimpy” with me every Saturday morning (this was prior to me becoming observant). She would even imitate Ren and we’d make each other laugh over jokes from the show. That interest later changed to “Animaniacs” when I started going to college. She even taped all the episodes for me.
We still have some TV shows in common, such as “Glee”. She’s been trying to get me to watch “Modern Family” and I finally started this week and am enjoying that, as well. There’s also “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In the past, we both shared an interest in “Seinfeld,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Sex and the City.” (It was awkward to watch that with her though because she’s still my mom, after all.) We also have movie interests in common and we recommend movies to each other. I know that if she doesn’t like a movie, I probably won’t either. Not that I agree about everything she likes though.
Then there are books. We both love to read and we’re constantly recommending books to one another. We also share books with each other. We have some similar interests in authors, but it’s nice that there are a lot of different interests too. It helps us maintain our individuality. My mom also loves Broadway and we also like a lot of the same musicals. We’ve even gone to Show Tune Sunday together a couple of times. We have some similar tastes in music too, such as Michael Buble. (I think she even likes Adam Lambert!)
Recently, my mom (and dad) has been more interested in participating in Jewish rituals. I’ve been supporting that through the gifts I’ve been choosing for them for various holidays or other special occasions. After I took my mom to a challah baking event last fall, she’s been baking challah all the time and even teaching her friends and other family members. When she came to visit in March, we got to bake challah together again. It was a fun bonding experience.
Overall, my mom is the perfect “girlfriend.” She loves to shop (and that’s just an understatement), go for manicures and pedicures, watch chick flicks and do other girly things. We talk a lot more often these days on the phone (or on Skype) and we usually have a lot more to say to each other these days. She even reads my blog and it means a lot to me that she tells me it’s something she looks forward to every day. Her excitement over my blog motivates me to write even more! If I had been less of an angsty teen growing up, I probably would have appreciated her “girlfriend” ways even more at that time. It’s almost like we’re making up for lost time now.
Even though we have more of a friendship these days (almost on equal playing ground, now that I’m a mom and not living under her roof anymore), she will always be my mom and will always have that important honor in my life. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
I could start from the basics and say that I’ve known my mom since birth. From that time until I got to high school, she just played the role of “Mom,” the authority figure in the house. My sister played the role of “friend” as we were growing up, but my mom was just that...my mom. Sure, we had lots of good times together, but I never considered seeing her in the role of “friend” before. When I was in high school, the first signs of friendship arrived when she started watching “Ren and Stimpy” with me every Saturday morning (this was prior to me becoming observant). She would even imitate Ren and we’d make each other laugh over jokes from the show. That interest later changed to “Animaniacs” when I started going to college. She even taped all the episodes for me.
We still have some TV shows in common, such as “Glee”. She’s been trying to get me to watch “Modern Family” and I finally started this week and am enjoying that, as well. There’s also “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In the past, we both shared an interest in “Seinfeld,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Sex and the City.” (It was awkward to watch that with her though because she’s still my mom, after all.) We also have movie interests in common and we recommend movies to each other. I know that if she doesn’t like a movie, I probably won’t either. Not that I agree about everything she likes though.
Then there are books. We both love to read and we’re constantly recommending books to one another. We also share books with each other. We have some similar interests in authors, but it’s nice that there are a lot of different interests too. It helps us maintain our individuality. My mom also loves Broadway and we also like a lot of the same musicals. We’ve even gone to Show Tune Sunday together a couple of times. We have some similar tastes in music too, such as Michael Buble. (I think she even likes Adam Lambert!)
Recently, my mom (and dad) has been more interested in participating in Jewish rituals. I’ve been supporting that through the gifts I’ve been choosing for them for various holidays or other special occasions. After I took my mom to a challah baking event last fall, she’s been baking challah all the time and even teaching her friends and other family members. When she came to visit in March, we got to bake challah together again. It was a fun bonding experience.
Overall, my mom is the perfect “girlfriend.” She loves to shop (and that’s just an understatement), go for manicures and pedicures, watch chick flicks and do other girly things. We talk a lot more often these days on the phone (or on Skype) and we usually have a lot more to say to each other these days. She even reads my blog and it means a lot to me that she tells me it’s something she looks forward to every day. Her excitement over my blog motivates me to write even more! If I had been less of an angsty teen growing up, I probably would have appreciated her “girlfriend” ways even more at that time. It’s almost like we’re making up for lost time now.
Even though we have more of a friendship these days (almost on equal playing ground, now that I’m a mom and not living under her roof anymore), she will always be my mom and will always have that important honor in my life. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
For the TV show of my life...
I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each others' blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
This week it is my turn to ask the question: What is your theme song? (Please share a link to the song and/or lyrics, if possible.)
I didn't know that a person could have a theme song until I saw "Ally McBeal" in 1998. Ally was seeing a quirky therapist (played by Tracy Ullman) who told her to find a theme song for herself. Afterward, she is walking down the street and dancing along to "Tell Him" by the Exciters (but sung by Vonda Shepard, as all songs were on the show).
After that, I thought long and hard about whether or not I had my own theme song. They seemed to come easily to some of my friends (there was one who chose "Walking on Sunshine" without giving a second thought to the matter), but I felt stuck. I abandoned the idea for a long time after the realization that I didn't have a theme song after all.
Flash forward to 2007. I had just moved to NJ and made some new friends shortly after settling in. One friend had a mix CD that she was playing in her car when we were on our way to a fair. The first song that came on was Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale. It brought back memories of hearing it at Cubs games, which brought back memories of previews for "Slums of Beverly Hills," which is where I first remember hearing that song (I'm sure I've heard it on oldies stations as a kid, but I didn't give it much thought). Then my friend made me a copy of the mix CD and I started playing that song over and over again. It motivated me on my way to job interviews and I loved singing and dancing along to it. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics. I just felt that the song was about making a fresh start, which was what I had to do in NJ. It also made me think that if I were a kid or teenager in the mid-70's, I'd probably be obsessed with it then, as well. It's just fun and carefree.
It's been almost 3 years since I adopted this as my theme song. I've once again had to make a fresh start when I moved to Maryland. I still play the song when I'm out driving and also turn up the volume whenever it comes on the radio. It came on last week and I was telling my husband how much I like it. He then told me that it's about a couple that is fighting a lot and has to start over again in their relationship. I told him that I just like the tune of the song and that I feel it can be about starting over in any aspect of life.
In the meantime, I also have this thing for "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. It's a strange song, but it somehow sticks in my head a lot and I end up singing it all the time. It's like my secondary theme song. It won't take the place of "Right Back Where We Started From," but it still is fun to sing and dance along with the lyrics and tune. In some ways, it makes me feel younger than I am. It's almost like the feeling I get from writing a blog that's just about me. Just about discovering all the things I thought I had forgotten and baring my soul, so to speak.
Here are the lyrics to both songs:
"Right Back Where We Started From"
"Hey, Soul Sister"
Check out the backstory about how the project was conceived and how we all came together.
Here are the other blogs:
Froggie Knits Like Crazy
Charmingly Random
Desperate Madness
This week it is my turn to ask the question: What is your theme song? (Please share a link to the song and/or lyrics, if possible.)
I didn't know that a person could have a theme song until I saw "Ally McBeal" in 1998. Ally was seeing a quirky therapist (played by Tracy Ullman) who told her to find a theme song for herself. Afterward, she is walking down the street and dancing along to "Tell Him" by the Exciters (but sung by Vonda Shepard, as all songs were on the show).
After that, I thought long and hard about whether or not I had my own theme song. They seemed to come easily to some of my friends (there was one who chose "Walking on Sunshine" without giving a second thought to the matter), but I felt stuck. I abandoned the idea for a long time after the realization that I didn't have a theme song after all.
Flash forward to 2007. I had just moved to NJ and made some new friends shortly after settling in. One friend had a mix CD that she was playing in her car when we were on our way to a fair. The first song that came on was Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale. It brought back memories of hearing it at Cubs games, which brought back memories of previews for "Slums of Beverly Hills," which is where I first remember hearing that song (I'm sure I've heard it on oldies stations as a kid, but I didn't give it much thought). Then my friend made me a copy of the mix CD and I started playing that song over and over again. It motivated me on my way to job interviews and I loved singing and dancing along to it. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics. I just felt that the song was about making a fresh start, which was what I had to do in NJ. It also made me think that if I were a kid or teenager in the mid-70's, I'd probably be obsessed with it then, as well. It's just fun and carefree.
It's been almost 3 years since I adopted this as my theme song. I've once again had to make a fresh start when I moved to Maryland. I still play the song when I'm out driving and also turn up the volume whenever it comes on the radio. It came on last week and I was telling my husband how much I like it. He then told me that it's about a couple that is fighting a lot and has to start over again in their relationship. I told him that I just like the tune of the song and that I feel it can be about starting over in any aspect of life.
In the meantime, I also have this thing for "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. It's a strange song, but it somehow sticks in my head a lot and I end up singing it all the time. It's like my secondary theme song. It won't take the place of "Right Back Where We Started From," but it still is fun to sing and dance along with the lyrics and tune. In some ways, it makes me feel younger than I am. It's almost like the feeling I get from writing a blog that's just about me. Just about discovering all the things I thought I had forgotten and baring my soul, so to speak.
Here are the lyrics to both songs:
"Right Back Where We Started From"
"Hey, Soul Sister"
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
You Belong to the City
This is a post from a little over 3 years ago, when we first moved to NJ. I was thinking about it this weekend, for some reason.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Heading east
Current mood: excited
Category: Travel and Places
One more day left of Illinois living, and then we head out to NJ, for a new, exciting, and different lifestyle. I am looking forward to the move, believe it or not. I think it will be interesting, as I've never lived out of state before. Knowing people out east helps. I don't feel like I'm going to a completely foreign land. Everyone I talk to also seems to know someone who lives out that way.
I'll be back to Illinois for visits, but I wonder if it will have the same feel or not. Some people have heard my thoughts on Chicago, as a city. How I found it glamorous as a kid and wanted to live there for a little while as an adult. How one day that all changed and now going to Chicago feels more like a hassle than anything else. I know that sounds so bad, but I only go down there now to visit friends (usually meeting up in Chinatown), go to a Cubs game, and occassionally go to Showtune Sunday at Sidetracks. When I went to NYC this past winter, I was completely blown away. I just get such a rush from being there. I love how you can cross the street and potentially bump into someone famous (like when my path crossed with Mario Cantone). I love how everything feels alive at all hours of the night. I love how you can be anyone and fit in just fine (I had this feeling, when I went to downtown Chicago last year, that I didn't fit in anymore). I don't dislike Chicago, but I just like NYC better these days. Which is why I'm glad we'll be living a short distance away.
I'm also looking forward to the journey towards the destination. I don't necessarily like having to drive, but I used to log a lot of miles back and forth from home and school. I will enjoy the aspect of singing a lot in the car and only having my cat to judge me (DH and Eitan will be in another car). It will be fun to make little stops along the way too.
I'll write more after we get settled in and the computer is back up.
Follow up:
It's funny to think about how disillusioned I became about NYC after writing this post. I think the disillusionment just built up over time for me. My in-laws' perspective of NYC is so different than mine. These days, I shudder just looking at the sign that points toward NYC (when I'm on the highway and have a choice between NYC and DC). I think that when I first went to DC for a visit, it jaded my view of NYC even more. They're completely opposite of each other, in my opinion. Everything that is beautiful, comfortable and relaxing about DC makes NYC feel even more crowded, fast-paced and dirty. I know there are people who love NYC and wouldn't leave it for a million dollars. However, the only way I plan to go back to the city is to visit my in-laws and now I want them to move out by us. I don't mind going back to NJ for visits, but it's hard to cram in time to see everyone I want. (Last time I was there was for a friend's daughter's birthday party and I got to see some other friends that way.) The one thing I do like about NYC is the Broadway aspect. One of the best times I had there was seeing "In the Heights" in 2009. All of NYC isn't about Broadway though and just being there unnerves me every time.
I'm just happy that I found a city where I feel truly comfortable and don't live too far away from either. I get a natural high every time I go to DC, no matter what it is I'm doing. I've never been much of a history buff, but I love that so much history takes place here. It feels like America's version of the holy land. I got to visit the White House this past winter. They didn't show a lot on the tour, but it was neat to be inside and see rooms where past presidents spent their time and entertained people. I also love how prominent the capital building looks in the middle of everything else. And best of all, most of the museums are free! There is so much to do for families out here, as well as stuff for just grown-ups. I'm glad I have a city where I feel I finally belong.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Heading east
Current mood: excited
Category: Travel and Places
One more day left of Illinois living, and then we head out to NJ, for a new, exciting, and different lifestyle. I am looking forward to the move, believe it or not. I think it will be interesting, as I've never lived out of state before. Knowing people out east helps. I don't feel like I'm going to a completely foreign land. Everyone I talk to also seems to know someone who lives out that way.
I'll be back to Illinois for visits, but I wonder if it will have the same feel or not. Some people have heard my thoughts on Chicago, as a city. How I found it glamorous as a kid and wanted to live there for a little while as an adult. How one day that all changed and now going to Chicago feels more like a hassle than anything else. I know that sounds so bad, but I only go down there now to visit friends (usually meeting up in Chinatown), go to a Cubs game, and occassionally go to Showtune Sunday at Sidetracks. When I went to NYC this past winter, I was completely blown away. I just get such a rush from being there. I love how you can cross the street and potentially bump into someone famous (like when my path crossed with Mario Cantone). I love how everything feels alive at all hours of the night. I love how you can be anyone and fit in just fine (I had this feeling, when I went to downtown Chicago last year, that I didn't fit in anymore). I don't dislike Chicago, but I just like NYC better these days. Which is why I'm glad we'll be living a short distance away.
I'm also looking forward to the journey towards the destination. I don't necessarily like having to drive, but I used to log a lot of miles back and forth from home and school. I will enjoy the aspect of singing a lot in the car and only having my cat to judge me (DH and Eitan will be in another car). It will be fun to make little stops along the way too.
I'll write more after we get settled in and the computer is back up.
Follow up:
It's funny to think about how disillusioned I became about NYC after writing this post. I think the disillusionment just built up over time for me. My in-laws' perspective of NYC is so different than mine. These days, I shudder just looking at the sign that points toward NYC (when I'm on the highway and have a choice between NYC and DC). I think that when I first went to DC for a visit, it jaded my view of NYC even more. They're completely opposite of each other, in my opinion. Everything that is beautiful, comfortable and relaxing about DC makes NYC feel even more crowded, fast-paced and dirty. I know there are people who love NYC and wouldn't leave it for a million dollars. However, the only way I plan to go back to the city is to visit my in-laws and now I want them to move out by us. I don't mind going back to NJ for visits, but it's hard to cram in time to see everyone I want. (Last time I was there was for a friend's daughter's birthday party and I got to see some other friends that way.) The one thing I do like about NYC is the Broadway aspect. One of the best times I had there was seeing "In the Heights" in 2009. All of NYC isn't about Broadway though and just being there unnerves me every time.
I'm just happy that I found a city where I feel truly comfortable and don't live too far away from either. I get a natural high every time I go to DC, no matter what it is I'm doing. I've never been much of a history buff, but I love that so much history takes place here. It feels like America's version of the holy land. I got to visit the White House this past winter. They didn't show a lot on the tour, but it was neat to be inside and see rooms where past presidents spent their time and entertained people. I also love how prominent the capital building looks in the middle of everything else. And best of all, most of the museums are free! There is so much to do for families out here, as well as stuff for just grown-ups. I'm glad I have a city where I feel I finally belong.
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