I'm Back

Sorry i've been out of touch.....i'm without a computer and only have access when visiting family and friends. My entries will continue to be sparse, until we finally move into our new home......which could be awhile.

So we sold our house and had to be out the beginning of December. Since our new house is not quite finished, we figured a week or two in the hotel. What could be so bad....it will be like being on a vacation. The first day, wow, all you can eat breakfast, once a week maid service, double beds (umm both good and bad) with a tv in the bedroom (new experience for us), little kitchen area to heat up leftovers, etc., den area, quiet, comfortable, and convenient. We are close to a train track, i love hearing the trains go by.

Three weeks later, or is it four, i can't even look at their breakfast b/c I've gained so much weight from eating every meal out! The dam trains blow their horns all night long! There is no TV in the den, only the bedroom, so when i can't sleep from the trains, I cannot watch tv b/c it bothers eddie. We also have no computer, nor does the hotel. Once a week maid is definitely not enough in a tiny space. The good news is that I found the laundry room on the 2nd floor, about 10 miles from our room. On another positive note, Buddy has learned to live in the crate when we are not there. He has also learned to walk on the leash. He's getting use to taking long walks up and down the long long halls, which is good practice for our new house. Best of all, Buddy has divorced me. He no longer wants to sleep with me, only Eddie. I'm all by myself in that double bed!!!! Eddie sometimes sleeps over, but then we get too squished up....he's cold, i'm hot, Buddy's trying to wedge in between us, forget it....go back to your own bed!!!

So after being there all this time, i just learned that i have free use of the Ballys gym, next door. Yeah, I'm back to working out. Feels great!!! Helps with all the Godiva, Rocky Mountain Choc. , cookies, nuts, and goodies that we have gotten as gifts. Thanks everyone, I'm going to roll down the aisle when Adam and Ileya get married.

Ok, so we are out of the house, I have limited use of a computer, and I just got over pneumonia. I missed a week of teaching. The first day of vacation, i came down with a bad cold. My son Adam, who has sleep apnea, decided to have his nose and throat fixed, hoping to help the problem. Nasty surgery, very painful. He's finally on the upswing.

And to top off my stress, today my kids in africa called to tell me they have been sick with salmonella typhoid. Heather is presently still in the hospital/clinic for dehydration. Eric's doing better then her. He got sick in the Sahara, and their guide told them that they needed to get out of the country and back to Senegal for proper medical treatment. This took some bribing at the border, but finally they made it back. By then, they were both very sick. Theyv'e only been in Africa for 2 months. I shudder to think of the other things they are up against!

Ok, i feel better venting.

Have a save and happy new year.

happy birthday to me

Since thanksgiving, I've had pneumonia, so i really wasn't' up to blogging. I'm not sure where i caught it from, no telling when you teach. That's the downfall to teaching: I pick up all kinds of colds, coughs, etc.!

My African kids are now traveling west. Being the only white faces in the city, they turned out to be celebrities. The community was so hospitable, they loved their stay in Ghana. Read more at: wwwgetjealous.com/grosman.

And finally, today is my b-day (52 years young). I gave myself a party with my kindergarten class. I'm not sure which made them happier....to see me back at school after missing the whole week or the (soy) ice cream sandwiches.

I'll blog tomorrow, with pictures....

africa continues

As you can see on their faces, Eric and Heather are so very happy. They are presently in Ghana, Africa at the YES School. Each day, they go into the classrooms and teach. Heather has been teaching songs, dances and animal habitats and Eric has been doing magic, math and taking pictures. The students are mesmerized by them....they have never gotten close to a white person before. They can't stop touching them...their hair, skin, etc.....

I want to go to africa.

happy thanksgiving

• Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving! Here is an e-mail that I got and wanted to share because I thought it was appropriate!


• 
  I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to G-d said in prayer are received." I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.
  
  The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section.. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.
  
  Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed. "How is it that? There's no work going on here?" I asked. "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.
  
  "How does one acknowledge G-d's blessings?" I asked. "Simple," the angel answered. "Just say, "Thank you, G-d." "What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.
  
  


• "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.
• "If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.




• "And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
  
  Also .....




• "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ...... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day.




• "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.




• "If you can attend a synagogue meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death ... you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.




• "If your parents are still alive and still married. You are very rare.




• If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you are unique to all those in doubt and despair."
  
  Ok, what now? How can I start?
  
  If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
  
  Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.
  
  Attn: Acknowledge Dept.: Thank You G-d! "Thank you G-d, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with."
  

African Adventure

Eric and Heather left for Africa last Thursday. As you can see from the photos, they traveled very light. Just 2 backpacks and 2 small carry- ons and that's it. One carry-ons was filled with medical supplies and gifts to hand out to orphanages, etc. The other had mainly camera equipment. Amazing, they will be traveling for 6 months and each of them only brought 2 of each clothing item (which includes the outfit they were wearing). They will end up buying clothes there, but the things they brought were specialty items made for backpacking and travel. (special fabrics which keep them dry, etc)

So their first stop is Ghana. They made it safely, with all of their luggage, and were picked up by a family who was hosting them for a few days. They said the family was sooooo hospitable. I only spoke with Eric briefly, he said he'd call in a few days. I also got a very short email which said "don't worry, things are better then great".

They are true soulmates...

adam and ileya

Ileya and Adam

The two moms--

Breaking the Plate Ceremony

Inlaws

Last weekend, Ileya's mom, Ellen, had an engagement party for Adam and Ileya. It gave the two families time to meet and greet, although we have known Ellen for many years now. In fact, we will soon be her new neighbor...

As part of the party, the two moms performed a very special ceremony. This is an almost un-heard of ritual performed by the bride's and groom's mothers to emphasize the seriousness of the commitment of the man and the woman who formally announced their plan to marry. It is, the act of breaking a ceramic plate. Customarily, the bride's mother and the groom's mother, drop the well wrapped plate onto a hard surface. Breaking the plate indicates that just as breaking the plate is final, so too the engagement is final, not to be terminated.

When a couple decides to marry, they announce the occasion with an engagement party. In Yiddish this event is called a vort, which means a "word." At the vort the man and woman traditionally give their "word" and formally commit to marry.

This custom to break a ceramic plate is at the vort. This symbolizes the seriousness of their commitment to each other: Just as breaking the plate is final, so too the engagement is final and not easily terminated.

Breaking the plate also tempers the intense joy of the occasion, similar to the glass which is broken under the chupah. It reminds us that the Temple is not yet rebuilt.

Customarily, the couple's mothers are the ones who break the plate. They hold the plate together and drop it onto a hard surface.

Some have the custom to make a necklace for the bride from the broken pieces. Others give the broken pieces to eligible "singles" as if to say "may a plate soon be broken for you." Some break the plate at the wedding just before the chuppa. Being the mosiac tile artist that I am, I'm planning on making some type of art piece for them with the pieces.

Goodbye Eric and Heather

The CYJ Staff

The following article was written by Yael Kahalnik, Assistant Camp Director of Camp Young Judaea, for their online newsletter. Thank you for the beautiful article!

Eric and Heather left today for their journey to travel the world....



Goodbye Eric and Heather
By Yael Kahalnik- Assistant Camp Director


Eric Grosman has served as the Director of Operations for CYJ for three and a half successful and exciting years. Throughout Eric’s stint running the CYJ Retreat Center during the year and ensuring a seamless summer at camp, he has brought passion, commitment, and a creative touch to every project he took on. Eric took on the challenge of growing our retreat center and has successfully increased the number of groups that utilize CYJ exponentially, developed new and attractive marketing materials both for the retreat center and for Camp, and took great pride in the upkeep and beautification of our facilities.

One of Eric’s great passions is environmentalism and he has continuously challenged us to “greenify” everything that we do, including the inception of a recycling program and the replacement of Styrofoam cups with reusable coffee mugs. With his warm and friendly personality, his eye for aesthetic beauty and artistic hand, and his hard-working, determined nature, Eric will be an irreplaceable member of the CYJ team. It is with heavy-hearts that we report that this November, our dear Eric will be leaving us to travel the world for with his beautiful wife Heather.

“Eric is a team player who will be missed. My hope is that he comes back to us after traveling the world.” says Frank Silberlicht, Camp Director.

Looking toward the near future, Eric and Heather are excited to begin their adventure around the world together.

“The first rule to our journey is..there are no rules. Anything goes!” says Eric.

With only a small amount of clothing, a big camera, some Pepto-Bismol, and a few other basic items in one carry-on size backpack each, the happy couple will be gone for about a year traveling to West Africa, East Africa, India, and Nepal in the first six months of their trek. While second half of their trip is still undecided, they have expressed interest in leading a Jewish youth trip to Israel or Central America over the summer. Hopefully we can convince them to return to the Judaean family to staff one of our exciting Summer Israel Programs! Eric, your smile and sense of humor will truly be missed. We wish them good luck on their journey and “nessiah tovah”.

I love pumpkin

Isn't she the cutest pumpkin you've ever seen!!!! We captured Sophie one day and took to a local pumpkin patch. (the grocery store)

Follow the bouncing ball

Working can sometimes be detrimental to your health. I learned this quickly, yesterday. While watching my students on the playground, another older student from a different grade, was walking past a ball laying on the ground and decided to kick it into the crowd of kids. I caught it right in my eye, knocked me to the ground. Immediately i had severe pain in my head and my vision was very blurred. It pays to have doctors in the family, my dad called up an ophthalmologist and got me in. Luckily, no torn retina or hemorrhaging. Wow, i had such a headache the rest of the day. Kids just don't think about the consequences of their actions.

I've got blog burn-out

In the summer, when things are quiet and calm, I loved blogging. Suddenly, my blog world seems to have hit a brick wall. Perhaps it's because i use so much of my energy at school, teaching 5 and 6 year olds. Wow, tough age. This year, my class is much more challenging. I didn't realize how lucky and easy it was for me last year. So by the end of the day, i'm almost brain dead. i will try to entry more, but don't expect it. I have blogger burn-out.

Raw spagetti

So for those of you that know me, i'm always talking about eating raw food. I can get through breakfast with a smoothie. The rest of the day, i just can't seem to stick with it for very long. Today, i decided to try out some new recipes that will help give some variety to this way of eating. My first experiment was raw pasta. Yep, this is a winner:

Use a peeler to make "pasta strips" with a zucchini (i peeled the skin off first) (i would have used my processor, but couldn't find the attachment)

Then process: one tomato, 3-4 soaked sun dried tomatoes, 2 soaked dates, a dash of cayenne pepper, garlic salt, and about a tablespoon of parsley.

That's it. Pour over zucchini. Eat it cold. It really is good, you get the same satisfaction of pasta, without the sugar, wheat, eggs, flour, etc. Best of all, it took minutes to make.

Finally

This was a big week for us, lots of showings on our house all week, but by friday, it all paid off. We finally SOLD OUR HOUSE. Now all we have to do is get our handyman to finish up a few things at the new house. Take a look at this handyman, hard at work. Do you think i should hire him?

To Alan

I loved you as a little child
I loved you then and now

I loved you as an annoying teen
I loved you then and now

I loved you as a handsome young man
I loved you then and now

I loved you as a brave adult
I loved you then and now

And when things started getting hard
Your illness came and went

You suddenly became that child again
Who we all loved then and now.

Though your time was short and sweet
Your memory lives on so clear

We laugh and we cry, and we all miss you
Because we loved you then and now

Today was the last day of mourning for my brother....the end of the 11 months of saying "kaddish". Coincidentally, we also had his tombstone unveiling today. Only the immediate family attended and we all stood around his grave, holding hands and listened to my mother talk about his life. Born as a blue baby, he wasn't suppose to live. He escaped death many times throughout his short life....starting at birth, then around 5 or 6 years of age he climbed up the high diving board at a hotel pool and jumped off, not knowing how to swim. Iin his youth, around 12 yrs old, he went through a sliding glass door and severed his arm...almost bleeding to death. In his teens his car went over a cliff and he and a friend came out without a scratch. Finally, as an adult he developed crone's disease and twice he hemorrhaged so badly he almost didn't make it.....

But at 48, his time was up. This time he couldn't be saved.

May i have this dance

I've seen it all, now... enjoy the show

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

blog action day

Today, October 15th, bloggers around the world will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. The aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.
(www.blogactionday.org)

We are all aware of the new "Green." In fact, it's hip to be green. We all talk about how important it is, but are we really doing something about it. If each of us tries to change just a little, think of the consequeces. My thing is recycling. In addition to home, at school, every piece of paper trash or scraps from my class goes into my recycle bin. Once filled, i take it home and send it on to the recycle center. Soon, I will start making paper with the scraps to show the students just how recycling really works. I did this last year and the students made cards from the recycled paper. This is just one way that i am trying to help.

Another simple thing i do is turn off the water when i brush my teeth. Doesn't seem like much, but the next time you brush your teeth, plug the drain and see how much water you waste.

In the future?????? My goal is to learn to compost. It seems so easy to do it with worms, however, yuck....i hate worms. But why should all of the edible scraps go into the garbage. (actually, i throw most of them in my creek for the turtles, ducks, fish, snakes, and the alligators). In a worm compost, the worms eat the scraps and their poop becomes rich soil.

So how are you helping?

blogactionday

The empty seat

Me and my girls.

Rachel and Kevin (my sister's children) with the Bar Mitzvah boy:

Max (my brother's son, the one dressed in the white shirt)

Me with the Princess

My sister, Lois and my brother, Howard.

Last weekend, my whole family, along with lots houston friends, traveled to Marietta, Georgia for my nephew's bar mitzvah. The weather was perfect and the leaves were just beginning to turn. We all had such a wonderful weekend, but it went by so fast. At the same time, it was an emotional roller coaster for all of us...the empty seat.

For every simcha (good occasion) we almost always are all together. We all do our best to make it to each other's simchas. Josh, my youngest, wasn't able to make it b/c of the college thing. He was very much missed, but it was just too hard to get him back and forth with classes, etc. I love having my whole family together, and this year was especially nice. Not only did I have Sophie, my granddaughter, but I had all of my girls (daughter in laws) as well.

Whenever my siblings and i would get together, we would always take a picture of just the 4 of us. As you can see in the last picture, it was so very hard to take. We are now 3. Alan loved to go to family functions. He was planning on going to this one, as well. It would have been his 49th b-day the same weekend. I just can't believe it's been almost a year since he's been gone.

Bet you didn't know he was a "Blue Baby". Blue Babies rarely lived. We were lucky, G-d gave us Alan for 48 years.

Yes, Alan's seat was empty, but his spirit filled the weekend. As long as he's in our hearts, his seat will never be empty.

texas trivia

Thought you might enjoy this Texas trivia

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .

1. Beaumont to El Paso : 742 miles

2. Beaumont to Chicago : 770 miles

3. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas

4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos , July 4, 1883.

5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America
built over water.

6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the
first full-time coach for Rice University in Houston

7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in
North America .

8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America 's only
remaining flock of whooping cranes.

9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.

10. The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900 caused by a
hurricane in which over 8000 lives were lost on Galveston Island .

11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was " Houston."

12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island .

13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a US . rainfall record of 43" in
24 hours in and around Alvin in July 1979.


14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as
Constitution of 1845 by Republic of Texas to enter the union) instead of by
annexation. This allows the Texas flag to fly at the same height as the US
flag, and may divide into 5 States.


15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.

16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period after Dr
in Dr Pepper.

18. Texas has had six capital cities:

18.1. Washington-on-the-Brazos
18.2. Harrisburg
18.3. Galveston
18.4. Velasco
18.5. West Columbia
18.6. Austin

19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S which is
taller than the Capitol Building in Washington D! C. (by 7 feet).

20. The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word "tejas" meaning
friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas

21. The State animal is the Armadillo. (An interesting bit of trivia
about the armadillo is they always have four babies! They have one egg, which
splits into four, and they either have four males or four females. Well, I
thought it was interesting anyway!)

22. The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston. (By the same man who built my new house)

23. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - TEXAS STYLE People here in Texas have
trouble with all those "shalls" and "shall nots" in the ten Commandments. Folks
here just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks out in west
Texas got together and translated the "King James" into "King Ranch"
language:


Ten Commandments, Cowboy Style.

Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in
Fairlie , Texas:
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's kinda plain an' simple don't ya think?

Y'all have a good Day.
Ye hear now ?
"THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU"

jib jab

Today, my friend Kathy (also known as Tic Toc the clown), invited me to perform with her on stage. Take a look at our can can dance:

http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/1099499

ouch

Buddy is taking care of my foot.

When your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause severe pain in the heel of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss).


It's an overuse injury affecting the sole or flexor surface (plantar) of the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means you have inflamed the tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting your heel bone to the base of your toes.

You're more likely to get the condition if you're a woman, if you're overweight, or if you have a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces. You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise, especially if you have tight calf muscles that limit how far you can flex your ankles. People with very flat feet or very high arches are also more prone to plantar fasciitis.
The condition starts gradually with mild pain at the heel bone often referred to as a stone bruise. You're more likely to feel it after (not during) exercise.


Well, let me tell you, it's not mild pain and feels like a stone is in the heel. I accidentally stepped on the door jam last week, and i saw stars. So today, i went to see the doctor. I diagnosed myself with the Internet, but he confirmed it. Plantar fasciitis. He numbed my foot up and gave me some sort of injection.

I have been fitted for an orthotic device like a rubber heel pad. My foot is taped into a specific position. At night, i have to wear a positional splint when i sleep. Finally, it's best to wear high healed shoes. That should be interesting teaching kindergarten and being on my feet the whole time.

Hopefully all of these things will prevent surgery to correct it and prevent a spur from appearing. So, for now, no treadmill.


But the best part of all this was the experience with the doctor. Unfortunately, medical care isn't like it use to be. We call doctors and get machines that answer....we have to push lots of button, and then wait for a call back. We wait and wait. Well, I have found a fabulous podiatrist, if you need one i will gladly give you his name and number This doctor and his office staff were so pleasant, it was an experience like "the good old days". From the time i made my appt, the doctor visit, the x-ray and ultrasound tech, the person who wrapped my foot, the person who made the foot impressions, the billing dept, etc......one was nicer then the next. I told the doctor how much i appreciated being treated so well. Everyone in that office seemed to love their job. They were all so happy and kind. Thank you dr. W.

lost friend

Yesterday was Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It is customary to ask for forgiveness from anyone you may have insulted or hurt.

Four years ago, a very very good friend of mine divorced, left town, and started a new life, leaving her past behind. Four years went by, and not a week went by that i didn't think of her. I respected her choice and gave her space. But i missed my friend. Over and over again, i wrote a letter to her in my head, but never seemed to get it on paper......until Friday.

I kept it simple, wrote from the heart, wished her a happy new year, and asked her to forgive me if I had hurt or offended her in some way. I didn't know why she cut all ties from her past, including me, but i knew that it was time to open the door to our friendship.

Tonight, we spent 2 treasured hours on the phone together. Life is just too short not to go after the things we want and need. I wanted my friend again and I got her back.

Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday, known as the Day of Atonement. It is considered to be one of the holiest and most solemn days of the year. Its central theme is atonement and repentance for sins against both God and one's fellow man.

The Torah calls the day Yom HaKippurim (יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, "The Day of Atonements") and decrees a strict prohibition of work and affliction of the soul.

Yom Kippur starts (at sundown friday ) and ends 24 hours later (at sundown, Saturday).

Although outside of the Land of Israel other biblical festivals are observed for two days because of doubt over the correct beginning of the month, Yom Kippur was not rabbinically extended to two days due to the difficulty of fasting for 48 hours.

Five prohibitions are traditionally observed:
Eating and drinking (maybe i'll loose a pound or two)
Wearing leather shoes (good, i can wear comfortable shoes)
Bathing/washing (gotta brush my teeth, but i won't swallow the water)
Anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions (ok, no lotion, but i will need powder and blush))

Wishing everyone an easy fast.
sharon

The photographer

This is my son eric. He is a photographer. Not by profession, just as a hobby. Though he has earned the title of "professional" because he has sold many of his pieces in different exhibits. If you look closely, you can see the henna painted on his left middle finger. Actually, his whole palm is painted, another of his hobbies.

Eric and his wife, Heather, have been planning a year long trip. In this picture, he is trying out a friend's camera....very important for the trip. November is just around the corner, they will spend the first part of their journey in Africa and India. Yes, I'm very nervous about it. Yes, a part of me doesn't want them to go( that's the mom part of me that worries). Yes, if I had the opportunity to do it at his age, I'd go in a minute. Yes, i'm jealous. Yes, I know, it's an experience of a lifetime. Yes, they should go, and finally, yes, they are going.

L'shana Tova, Happy New Year

Dear friends and family,

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.

Love, sharon

In memory of 911

To Kill an American

You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)

"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian , or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in AfghanistanThe only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.

The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never as king a thing in return.

When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!

As of the mornin g of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo , and Stalin , and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself .

Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

The "C" word

Cancer is a scary word. It weighs heavily on one's shoulders. No matter how old a person is, that "C" diagnosis will age a person overnight. Even if it goes away, you are always afraid. It's always there haunting you. Always. But what happens to the family who's life is turned around when they suddenly learn that their 18 year old son has cancer. Their life stops, their world is turned upside down. One week ago, I heard this sad news about a family I've known since my high school days. The parents of this child are my age. He (the dad, not the child) was my children's doctor, as well. Their son and my son were in a youth group together. This is what they faced until today. As suddenly as their world fell apart, their burden was suddenly lifted from their shoulders. Yes, their son was misdiagnosed. I'll say it again, because it's so hard to believe. He was misdiagnosed. You might ask how can this happen. It happens from getting second and third opinions. The tumor was rare, not commonly seen. The specialists at MD Anderson recognized it as a benign tumor.

Two things i want to bring up. 1) always get a second opinion

This goes without question.

The 2nd) This family is not angry. During the course of the week, they were faced with the details of the protocol. Very scary things. This family's attitude has much to be admired.....they question what is to be learned from this challenging experience.

For me, through my own family's experience with "C", I've learned the true value of friends and family from all the love, support, and abundance of prayers.

kings and queens

Our friends, kathy and bob from galveston, just became the proud grandparents of 5!!! Lady, who is a king charles cavalier spaniel, delivered last week. She is the sweetest dog, it's so hard to resist getting a new puppy. Aren't they adorable.

Group Hug

Here's a picture of my group taken a few weeks ago when Josh was home. It's amazing, they actually grew up and like each other! It only seemed like yesterday when Eric would say something mean to Adam, Adam would fight with Philp, Philip would tease Josh, and Josh would give it back to all of them. But Josh was the smart one, he knew it was just a matter of time before the eric, adam and philp would all be out of the house and he would then have the whole upstairs to himself. Well, at least for a little while, until they all moved home for a brief time! Now the nest is empty, the rooms stay spotless, and we are moving to a bigger house. Crazy!

A minute can change everything.

This is such a rare sight for baby sophie, that I just had to post it. She is always so happy go lucky, gets passed from person to person, and never cares. I guess she just had enough!!!

Grampa Jules feels her pain.

back to school

Remember the metal lunchboxes? I was a brown bagger, but I'm sure I would have bought this one if I saw it. What kind did you have?

So, I didnt' fall of the face of the earth, I'm once again in the working world. I spent all last week getting my class together and inservice started today. Yes, I'm a bit overwhelmed, this has been a huge job....going through all of the materials and setting up the room. Remember, last year I started about a week into the school year, after the Kindergarten teacher quit. So I didnt' have to do anything to the room. This year, a whole different story.....boring one, so I will spare you the details. All I can say is I'm exhausted. If I weren't such a perfectionist, this would be easier. Nope, I want everything just right, including new games, lesson plans, etc. I love being back.

Buddy news: he hasn't had ONE accident in the house. He is like a different dog: much calmer, laid back, and still loveable. Yes, I should have done this when he was a puppy. Oh well, better late then never.

Josh news: the lump on his face has gone down. He started his classes today, set up his apt. all weekend. We are going to try and visit him in the next month.

How smart is your dog?

Who would ever believe that there is an IQ test for dogs! Well, here's your chance to see just how smart your pooch is....

Towel test:Take a large towel or blanket and gently place it over your dog's head.If he frees himself from the towel in less than 15 seconds, give him 3 points. If it takes 15-30 seconds, 2 points. Longer than 30 seconds earns 1 point.
Bucket test:Place a dog treat or a favorite toy under one of three buckets placed next to each other. Let the dog know which bucket the treat is under, than turn the dog away for a few seconds. Then, let her find the treat. If she immediately goes to the correct bucket give her 3 points. If she takes two attempts, score 2 points. If your dog looks under the other two buckets first, score 1 point.
Favorite spot:With your dog out of the room, rearrange the furniture. When he re-enters the room, if he goes directly to his favorite spot give him 3 points. If it takes him 30 seconds to investigate before he finds his spot, give him 2 points. If he decides on a new area completely, score 1 point.
Chair puzzle:Place a treat under a table or chair low enough so your dog can only fit her paw and cannot fit her head. If your dog figures how to reach the treat within one minute, score 3 points. If she uses her paws and nose, score 2 points. If your dog gives up, score 1 point.
Go for a walk!On a day or time you normally don't walk your dog, quietly pick up your keys, and his leash while he's watching you. If he gets excited immediately, score 3 points. If you have to walk to the door before he knows it's time to go out, score 2 points. If he sits and just looks confused give him 1 point.
Barrier test:Construct a barrier from cardboard that is 5 feet wide and taller than your dog when she's on two legs, so she can't see over it. Attach two boxes to either side as support structures. In the center of the cardboard, cut a 3 inch-wide rectangular aperture - it should run from about 4 inches from the top to about 4 inches from the bottom. (This way, the dog can see through the barrier but cannot physically get through.) Toss a toy or treat to the other side of the barrier, or have someone stand on the other side. If your dog walks around the barrier within 30 seconds, give her 3 points. If she goes around the barrier between 30 seconds and one minute, give 2 points. If she gets her head stuck in the aperture trying to get through, give her 1 point for effort!

Scoring and results16 points or higher - Brilliant! 13 to 16 points - Well above average9 to twelve points - Average 5 to 8 points - Below average 1 to 4 points - Not the brightest kibble in the bag, but we still love 'em!

Still not sure about your pup...here's the top 10 smartest:

1. Border collie

2. Poodle

3. German shepherd

4. Golden retriever

5. Doberman pinscher

6. Shetland sheepdog

7. Labrador retriever

8. Papillon

9. Rottweiler

10. Australian cattle dog

Poor little buddy didn't make list, but he makes up for it in love. Oh, and even though buddy acts like he's a graduate, that is not him in the picture above.

headshots

Well, even though Buddy has to wear this lampshade to keep from licking his incision, he's doing great. I actually don't make him wear this thing while i'm home b/c I can monitor him closely. Only a few more days....In the meantime, the good news is that he hasn't had one accident or marked his territory at all in the house! (probably b/c he can't sniff with that thing on!)

This is my son, Josh. Josh is in his third year at U of Arizona, Engineering School. Josh hates needles, Josh hates shots, Josh hates blood tests. He has had this bump in his cheek since he had his wisdom teeth out in December. He's been going back and forth to the dentist and 2 different oral surgeons. He's been on penicillin, and it actually started to go away. This past week, he hit it with his car door and the bump started growing and growing. Thank goodness he had planned on coming home yesterday. When he walked off the plane, it looked like he had a jawbreaker in his mouth!!!! My kids have a way of not telling me how bad things are. They know I freak out. So today he saw the ENT doctor and the bump is an infected lymph node. The dr. had to take a culture from it (needle aspiration, yuck!) and he had a very painful shot. Not a good day for josh. Hopefully with lots of heavy antibiotics, it will go away and no more treatment. Thank goodness his girlfriend, Alex, was with him to hold his hand.

The events of the day

I'm happy to report that Buddy is doing fine from his little surgery. He's a bit on the groggy side, and when i put that lampshade on his head, he will be annoyed, but that's all part of the recovery.

On another note, my blog friend, africankelli, made me these fabulous market bags. As you can see, they came in handy when i shopped at Whole Foods today, while buddy was at the clinic. Thanks Kelli, I love being a little "greener".

This is no joke

I sat buddy down and said to him, "Buddy, there's something i have to tell you." "Tomorrow, after 10:00 pm, you cannot have anything to eat or drink." "You see, on thursday, you are going to be neutered...."

Buddy says, "your joking, right!!!!?????"

Buddy then says, "they are going to cut what off!!!!!!!!!!!"

"OYE VEY"

Exercise for older adults

Here's a funny exercise joke that someone sent me today. Enjoy.

Exercise for Older Adults

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks.

Then try 50-lb potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

Do you remember?

Do you remember The Jack LaLanne Show? (http://www.jacklalanne.com/) I completly forgot about that until the wee hours of the morning. I was flipping through the channels, after watching my favorite cooking show: Ace of Cakes. On discovery, Impact Survival was on. I flipped and what do i find: Jack Lalanne selling his juicer. That man is 93 years young. Now I know, plastic surgery. But plastic doesn't make a person stronger....that man is going strong. I watched, and then remembered...



My experience with Jack. He was my first .....the first time I remember exercising. He had a show on TV, and I'd exercise along with him and that chair. Perhaps that is why I always do lots of floor exercises, never remembered being taught, always just did them. Thanks Jack, you started me on the road of a lifetime of exercise and stretching. Now I don't know where it came from.....certainly not from my parents, they never ever exercise. Never from my siblings, never saw that. I was the only one that did all the latest....it was called jazzercise, aerobics, yoga, next year something else. I swan laps, I lifted weights, I did the machines (even the one that had a bumpy roller and would hit against the cellulite to make it go away!), I tried spinning, but my favorite of all times was Dancing with Richard Simmons. I found him on One Life To Life, the soap opera. From there, he had his own show.....any you know the history.

So, I leave you with: Jack's Words of Wisdom

Anything in life is possible and you can make it happen.

Your waistline is your lifeline.

Exercise is King, nutrition is Queen, put them together and you've got a kingdom.

Don't exceed the feed limit.

The food you eat today is walking and talking tomorrow.

Ten seconds on the lips and a lifetime on the hips.

Better to wear out than rust out.

Do - don't stew.

People don't die of old age, they die of inactivity. (this is my favorite)

First we inspire them, then we perspire them.

You eat everyday, you sleep everyday, and your body was made to exercise everyday.

Work at living and you don't have to die tomorrow.

I can't die, it would ruin my image.

If man makes it, don't eat it.

If it tastes good, spit it out.
What's it doing for me?

Your health account is like your bank account: The more you put in, the more you can take out.

If one apple is good, you wouldn't eat 100.

It's not what you do some of the time that counts, it's what you do all of the time that counts.

Make haste slowly.

Eat right and you can't go wrong.

my weekend at camp

Bad picture of me, but wanted to show off my helping in the kitchen...one of the highlights of the weekend for me. I loved working in an industrial kitchen, learned some new things from Eric, too!

Eric, Heather, and eddie and I in front of a hole in the wall breakfast taco place...delicious

Eric and Heather's room, along with their 3 visiting doggies.

The waterslides were so much fun...country club camp.

There are deer everywhere, they are not afraid of the humans. I got pretty close for this picture. They are usually out in early morning and dawn.