The duckpond

11:35 am

Anyone local or not toooooooo far off the highway want to join us for a free Simon and Garfunkel tribute concert tonight?

05:09 pm

This started as a reply to a comment on the previous entry, but it started turning into a whole megillah so I decoded to give it it's own post.

For a long time Jason and I were much further right leaning than we are now.  We realized after a time that the only thing "wearing the uniform" meant was that we were trying to force fit ourselves into a slot that was not the right shape. 

I do not believe in segregation a group diferentials because of outer casings.  After a time I refused to dress as if I did. 

I one heard, from a female Reform rabbi, there when it all boilds down to it, there are only 2 types of Jews.  Those who take their Judaism seriously and attempt to do what they believe is right in the eyes of Hashem, and those who don't.

I think it can be extended to encompass all of humanity but changing it to "there are only 2 types of people in this world.  Those who look to make it a better place, and those who don't.

Those who believe that Hashem/life is restrictive and is looking to make life hard and unenjoyable for everyone- that the only goal is to get through with "top marks" for yourself and screw everyone else.  Those are the ones who I believe have no true understanding of what Judaism is.  I firmly believe that Hashem wants us all to be individuals within the great framework he has given us.  I also think that framework does include things that each of us are "over" on in some way.  I have gay friends who would give you the shirt off their backs if you were in need.  I know a woman who would never be caught outside the shower without her sheitle.  Her kids are dressed in perfect matching outfits everywhere she goes.  Her husbands hat is always perfectly brushed.  And I also know she has absolutly zero decency in how she treats her hired help.  I see people who are "completely shomer torah and mitzvot" who cheat the government out of every penny they can.  It is not for me or anyone else in this world to judge who is a "bigger sinner".

People can accomplish the most amazing things when they build bridges rather than dig trenches.

10:23 am

There are times where the place I live terrifies me.

Not because every day we are inching closer to a war with Iran. I can deal with that. I made my peace about moving to a country constantly on the brink of war before getting on the airplane- anyone who tells you they did not contemplate the issue in one way or another while weighing the aliya options is lying. That sort of fear comes part and parcel with Israel citizenship.

No, what scared the living daylights out of me is, shall we say, certain "darker" members of our society- and in no way am I referring to skin colour.

This morning I got up, got dressed, remembered I had to go to the post office, then got dressed again. The local post office is "there". There were no one will look me in the eye and God only knows what will happen if I enter dressed in sandals.

I live right in the heart of one of the craziest areas of the country where Hareidi and Dati Leumi and Chiloni and all sorts of other fairly meaningless classifications of people clash regularly. I live in an area known to be so insane that Chareidim from other areas think that ours are loony. Granted that, for the most part, the "crazies" are few and far between and live "down there"- but they are still around and that 1 or 2% are vocal enough to being a bad rep for the rest of the community.

This morning I came home from the post office to find my mail box stuffed with tznius patrol sort of stuff. A full colour, gloosy pamphlet that included diagrams to show me exactly what was, and what was not acceptable. A recent change at my health care facility- public owned and open to everyone who pays membership, is now informing people who need appointments that they must come in "appropriate attire". Thanks maccabi. If I have a kitchen accident I will be sure to take the time to put on socks before I rush over.

But it is not just here that things are getting out of hand. These few darker elements of an overal good society are becomeing more extreme and more violent on a quickly increasing scale. I do not understand how anyone, anywhere, can justify the riots taking place in Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh.

Is being mechalel shabbat by driving against the rules set forth by the Torah and masorah? Yes. Should I do my best to make sure that if there is soemthing I can do to lesson the levels of those being mechalel shabbat in this world? Maybe. Should I do it with violense so I can make sure that my position is clear and that there is no way on God's Earth that such a thing can be allowed to continue? No way in Hell!

I am not sure where this is going. I am just frusterated with the sickening perversions of a faith I hold true and the way it is being portrayed to people- and not only to outsiders! I am just as easily influenced to be "anti" as any non believer out there.

The whole thing saddens and disgusts me.

01:11 am

Lor and I decided to take the kids to do something fun so we packed everyone in to her car and went off to Modiin to Eretz Nehaderet- and indoor playground sort of thing. We got there in decent time and figured there was about an hour for the kids to play before we had to get back on the road to come home. The kids took off their shoes, put them into cubbies and went off to play. They ran, they climbed, they jumped, they bounced, they slid and they rode the mini train until we told them it was time to get ready to go.

Channah ran back to where her shoes were- only there were not shoes there. She came back to tell us her shoes were gone. Lor was going over that way anyway so she sort of rolled her eyes and said she was going to go look. she came back. "Rach? The shoes really are not there."

So of course I did the eye roll thing and went over. Surprise surprise no shoes.

So I looked all over the place. Under jackets, on climbing areas. No shoes.

It seems someone had walked off with Channah's sandals! 200 shekel down the drain. Do you know how hard it is to find shoes for a kid with a long but AAA width foot?

So I went to ask the guy at the door if there was anywhere else it could be (lost and found? a different shoe cubbie) "Not my responsability he sais. When I try to ask if I can leave contact information and a description in case it turns up he just keeps repeating "not our responsability". Gee thanks buddy.

Eventually I found a staff member willing to humour me and pretend to take the information and my card with my number on it.

I suspect they will never get a 2nd thought from anyone but me.

So we drove back to Beit Shemesh with her barefoot. Once she understood that I was not angry at her (she had put them where she was supposed to!) she took the whole tihng like a trooper. We took her to two different shoe stores locally to try to find shoes, but not a single pair would fit. I have been told about one more local place to try so we will likely go Friday- if that does not work out I am going ot take her back to Jerusalem to where we got the first pair.

Grr...

01:43 pm

My favourite question from clients is always...

"Wow, how do you do make it so I can't see where the problem was?"

Um, that's my job... I am good at it.

08:26 pm

RIP Billy Mayes -so sad- but for just two easy payments of 29.95 you too can have a seat at his funeral- BUT WAIT- THERE'S MORE! refer a friend and BOTH of you can have seat,s that two whole seats for just 4 easy payments of 29.95!

01:05 am

We just watched Angels and demons.  Good to know religious movies are consistent.  A & D was about as close to the orriginal literature as the 10 commandments was...

03:24 pm

Tonight was Channah's end of year displays for both Ballet and Gan. They were wonderful. I have such a cute little dancer.

The theme for the year in gan was "Ahavat Yisrael". Lots of cute songs about loving other people and friends being friends.

It is about 8 minutes long all said and told. Enjoy!

03:24 pm

Standard for our klita,

We waited and waited and hmmed and hawed and finally signed Channah up for camp. 2 days later we get a call camp is cancelled because not enough kids signed up. We signed up so recently no money have actually been taken out of our bank account so we do not need to worry about getting anything back.

2 hours later we hear about another camp, with room, for 500 shekel less than we had planned to spend (which, co-incedentally, is the exact ammount we just agreed to pay for swimming lessons that we were not sure if we should do or not because of the cost).

Yeah.

Life seems to work itself out a lot easier on this side of the ocean.

07:54 pm - Shabbat Menu

Just lunch.  Friends and their twins.  We are out Friday night :)

Schnitzel
Potato Kugel
Pretend ceasar salad
cooked carrots
deli roll
cucumber salad

chocolate pie

10:52 pm

Swirsky combined stats

11 years
10 ways to reach us
9 jobs
8 years of school
7 months pregnant
6 inlaws
5 "regular" shuls
4 places of habitation
3 cars 2 continents
1 gorgeous kid

Happy-holy-crow-it-is-over-a-decade-anniversary to us!

05:03 pm - For the birds

• 09:42 @thebigfelafel We were also there last night. Really enjoyed the show! #

12:14 am - Menu

Shabbat Lunch- Us, a coupel from around the corner, and a friend of mine from way back who lives in Tel Aviv but will be local for shabbat (Yay!)

Sweet potato wedges
Something with ground beef
some sort of chicken stir fry with vegies
some sort of pasta salad or something
cut vegies & dips/salatim

Chocolate Pie

05:03 pm - For the birds

• 20:42 happy camper in the studio today tinyurl.com/p4h428 and tinyurl.com/num99v amongst other things :) #

05:02 pm - For the birds

• 02:28 @alhamadaf bookmark? #

05:05 pm - For the birds

• 17:41 @alhamadaf custom jewelery? #

11:30 am - My new camera

This is my new camera.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SX110IS/SX110ISA.HTM

My parents got it for me for my birthday and I am in HEAVEN. The only thing I do not love about it is that the shot to shot time is over 2 second- but most of the time it is not a huge issue.

Seriously, enough mp to blow anything I take up to banner size (like I ever do that) an a zoom so strong it can do this (click to embiggen for real look at quality.

No Zoom


Some Zoom


More Zoom


Full (Optical) Zoom


(There is still digital zoom, but then you lose quality)
 

11:16 am - That was anti climactic

For weeks here they have been telling us that at 11:00 on June the 2nd there was going to be a HUGE, country-wide emergency drill to not only test the siren system but also to ensure that everyone in the country knows what to do in case of a real emergency. For weeks it has been talked about everywhere. "Don't forget THE DRILL." "Remember not to forget THE DRILL." The whole thing has taken on the implications of a nuke going off in your living room sort of scale that YOU. MUST. NOT. FORGET.

For information in English on THE DRILL check here.

Drill just happened. It was about a minute long, not as loud as the normal Yom HaZikaron siren, and sounded like an ambulance driving by. Mom and I went to the mamad (sealed room) and sealed it. By the time we got the door closed it was over.

04:28 pm

Menu - all meals are just us and the 'rents.

Tonight
Mac n' cheese
broccolli
leftover salad from the restaraunt we went to for lunch today.  It was huge, awesome, and there is still enough for all 5 of us.
Cheesecake

Tomorrow Lunch
BBQ Nile fish
Cheese Blintzes

Friday night
Chicken
Potatoes
Broccolli

Shabbat Lunch
Dairy leftovers I think.  I might go with something else, but currently there is no room in the fridge to consider anything new.

07:46 pm - Shabbt with the 'rents

Dinner

sushi
stir fry (carrots, baby corn, brocooli, cauliflower, chicken pieces)
rice
apple cinniman cake

Lunch
Tomato salad
cucumber salad
cole slaw
chicken and vegie shish kabob
broccolli
watermellon

Food for during the week
tuna patties
grilled zuccinni and carrots
tuna cassaroll
fish, baked potatoes and broccolli
scrambelled or omletted eggs
sandwich stuff
cottage cheese
rice cakes
frozen burekas

also going to make brownies to have around.