It's Moshav

Tonight we will light the candles and then rush off to synagogue.... we are going to see The Moshav Band. I will wish you all a happy 6th night of Hanukkah and report more tomorrow.

Greetings from the great northwest

I have been asking for Hanukkah greeting pictures from Davis, Florida and Portland.... well thank you Portland... I will be making pillows tonight... well actually Monday night Tonight we are gong to see The Moshav Band at synagogue.

Eric and Chevel...thank you for joining our family tradition...

and for the rest of you wayward tradition buckers (that would be Sam, Morgan and Nathan)... I would still like my pictures for 2007

It's the 5th nicht of Hanukah

it's the 5th night.... nothing special to report just good wishes to all.... oh yeah Shomer has it figured out if he sheves (sit) when we light the candles he gets a treat.

Happy Hanukkah.... Woof Woof

Welcome to our Shabbos Table

It has been a very strange Hanukkah this year.... First it came so early.... yes there could still be Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge (not ours because we were in Vegas) as we are preparing Latkas (we haven't done that yet either).... and then the house is so empty. Not like years past when we were spilling over with kids and friends.... this year we didn't even decorate... not like in years past were every little space had something Hanukkah related... to this year where we have one jelly chanukiah up and that is it.

Tonight was even smaller than normal although, I don't know how much smaller we can get and still be a we... But Ash, Bear and I celebrated Hanukkah and Shabbat tonight....yes that is why she is with us tonight .... that is our present from her, time.....It is very strange to have an empty house...I am beginning to understand empty nest syndrome... it is good and it is not so good....

Ahhhh I digress again.... Happy Hanukkah and Good Shabbos

night 3

Tis the Third night of Hanukkah

and no one is home

Ashleigh is at Temple

Bear and I have a class of our own.

Celia is in Portland

Sean is there too

Sam is in Davis

in hebrew she can say MOOOOO

(o.k. maybe not)

On the east coast you'll find Morgan

you'll find Nathan there too

Bubbie is off to the dessert

We all have so much to do

we've left Shomer alone.

He can't light the candles

he can kind of say the prayers

But Shomer is lonely with none of us there.

The odds are better on Friday

that we will all be there.

So our third night of Hanukkah

has come and has gone

I hope your holiday is happy

and full of Joy and of Song.

I am going to try and dance a little slower

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done !

Do you lie in your b ed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow dow n.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast

to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry

through your day,

It is like an unopened gift..

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

The poem is actually part of an internet haox but I really liked the poem and as 2007 comes to an end I can look back and think of the to many times when I just danced way to fast and took friends and loved ones for granted. I hope to dance a little slower next year ...

Channukah oh Channukah

Come light my menorah......

Well here we are the month of December is young, the 4th to be exact and here in SoCal it is 85 degrees shorts weather but it just doesn't feel like Channukah.

Last year it was just Ash, Bubbie, Bear and me....and that was hard but we thought it would get better.... but no ... it is even emptier this year. Sam and Celia are gone still, Morgan is staying in Fl to work, Ashleigh is down at temple almost every night and Bubbie is leaving town on Friday... I guess this is what empty nest is all about....

So we thought that we would go down to synagogue for the Latka bar... sounds good and I don't have to clean up and I could be with my kid on channukah while she was there with everyone Else's kid.

But alas .... if you want latkas you just have to do them yourselves... or go to the deli.

So Happy Hannukah and we see how the dreidel spins tomorrow.

Political Correctness run amuck

Wednesday was an fun day..... besides tasting Beverly.... the stomach flu.... a 15 degree drop in the temperature.... We had the pleasure of going to see Spamalot at the Wynn hotel.

It was such a great show and there were so many enjoyable songs. We loved every one of them however I was so saddened to find out that the one song "You Wont Succeed On Broadway" that we just thought was soooo funny was the only one that is completely ignored in the gift shop. I was told that was the one song that seemed to upset people. And that sometime people would walk out. I couldn't believe it, and I think it is time for people who have such a thin skin to do their best to protect society and just not go you don't have to be entertained.

Now it's a soap box moment: I am so tired of the world bending so far to the politically correct that the world has no color, no life, no humor no spark... it is just pure white and no one is allowed to have any humor because someone might be offended. The world needs to be protected from the thin skinned in society.

What would you do for $2

.....If you asked me I would not have done it but Ashleigh did....

She finished the glass of Beverly.

Have you tasted Beverly yet?

You have not tasted anything until you have tasted Beverly, an aperitif that Coke makes for it's Italian Market. Ashleigh and Bubbie found Beverly at the Coke Museum on the strip Monday after we parted ways with Bubbles and Allen. They went off .








They hit the M&M museum and the Coke Museum and Cokes Taste of the World display. For $7 you have the opportunity to taste 16 different sodas that Coke a Cola makes for different markets around the world. You have Kin Cider from Ireland, Vegita Beta from Japan Kinley Lemon and Krest Gingerale from Israel and yes Sam drank both of these last year when she was there. there were many flavors but the one that Ashleigh talked about the most was Beverly from Italy. A clear soda that she couldn't wait to share with her sister Samantha.

Bubbie and Ashleigh were talking about it all night and made us promise that we would go back as soon as Sam got here, o.k. she allowed us to wait for Wednesday morning.







Wednesday morning came and aside from the fact that I was feeling a touch of stomach flu it was nothing compared to what Ashleigh set Samantha up for. We made it to the Coke Museum, on the first floor Barry posed with the Coke a Cola polar bear we always like a Bear and a Bear.






















Then he posed with the girls and the same bear.





Then it was time to go up to the 2nd floor where we were able to have some Coke in a Glass Bottle, and Sam got to taste Beverly.


Sam has not yet decided how she will get Ashleigh back ... but if I were Ash I would sleep with the lights on at winter break.

Bubbles and Allan

Out timing was great and we were in Vegas while they were in Vegas. We had dinner last night and then breakfast today... and then they went back to New York.... but we did get a few pictures before they were gone.

thanksgiving in Vegas issue 1

There will be no order to these entry's I will just be happy to get one up once a day.... yes I know I missed yesterday to today is for Saturday and Sunday.

Is she having fun or what?

we arrived, unpacked, the groceries were already here waiting for us (great deal) and we went of to explore Vegas.


























Now I have to tell you we were not prepared for what we walked into.... right across the way from us is this place called the Miracle Mile Shopping Mall It use to be the shopping mall attached to the Aladdin but not any more. Now it's Planet Hollywood and it's OPEN. so picture this... as we are walking through the shopping center then through the casino and there was security and paparazzi all over the place we had not clue as to why but we found out .... Planet Hollywood Las Vegas was having it's grand opening and we were trying to get out just as they were trying to get in... that was not an easy task... but we managed.















We went to Bellagio to see the water show and have a little ice cream... we will be back later so Ashleigh can look at all the art for a school project.



















On Sunday we went to New York (New York New York), Egypt (luxor) and Camelot (Excalliber) It was fun Ashleigh made me an origame tulip from her Jewish Origami book. We finished the evening with Bubbles and Allen at a Brazilian BBQ.

Way to many Good-Bys

I have been doing this blog for 16 months now and have just had way to many people to say good by to. Jane last April then there was Mark and Norman in July.

and now Joel




When someone who is older passes away we are sad but move on comforted by the fullness of their life.... when someone who is young is taken from us we are sadder because of the unknown potential. But the hardest loss I think is when they are in the prime of their life touching people in so many ways sometimes when they don't even know it. and that is where I am left with regards to Joel Schickman. A year ago he was a young rabbinic student with three wonderful little boys a beautiful wife and a voice that could draw anyone in, and know he is gone.


It is with great sadness and tears that just come out of nowhere that I say good by to Joel, you will forever be in my heart and thoughts.

Finishing our Sukkah

We started our sukkah before we left for Davis...

Thank you David and Sam.

but that was only the frame...

we still had the walls

and some decorating to do...

and that was left to USY.

Ashleigh

Hannah

Sarah

Zander

I had a good time working with the kids... and I think they had a good time also.

Thank You ...STS USY

Leaving Sam in Davis

We have said our good-buys
and sent Celia back to Portland.














given Sammie our last hugs until Thanksgiving

Then there was not much left to do but drive home

..it didn't take Ashleigh long to get comfortable with the to