Adar

The man might as well live on Mars, for all he knows about 50% of America. 8 months ago

I did indeed take a week’s vacation, and was so scrambled by the time I took it that I:

(1) messed up my reservations so that I arrived at the hotel a day ahead of my rez (but the kind people helped me fix it.)

(2) My back went out promptly as soon as I got settled in my room

and

(3) While I traveled to a lovely place, I spent most of the week ASLEEP.

Clearly, the next vacation needs to happen before I am falling apart! 8 months ago

this sounds life-changing, in a good way. I’m glad that you have taken this step.

I doubt I’ll ever meet you and Nick, but you are dear to me and in my thoughts. I’m glad to see good things happening for you. 8 months ago

Huge chunks of it, including the wonky stuff, were AD LIBBED. The man is brilliant.

Loved him. 9 months ago

Funny, I wrote a blog entry about this very thing just this week:

http://coffeeshoprabbi.com/2012/09/05/blogelul-sinning-against-myself/

I agree with razz. The closets will still be there. I vote for getting the A/C fixed – that will do wonders for your stress. And take a little time for YOU.

(Adar, who is headed off to take some time for Adar, because it is long overdue.) 9 months ago

by giving those clothes to places that redistribute them, you will be a blessing in many women’s lives.

You can feel guilty, or you can recognize that BECAUSE you bought those clothes, and took good care of them, some women will have nice clothes in hard times: clothes for interviews, clothes to go to a daughter’s wedding, clothes for a special occasion, and now, thanks to you, THEY will not have to be embarrassed.

You are doing a wonderful thing. Own it. And tell that little shaming voice in your head to shut the heck up. You are a blessing. 9 months ago

about kombucha lately. I learned that I liked it, then was going to make it at home, then learned that a local collective makes really nice kombucha and I could just buy from them.

But it’s lovely fizzy stuff, allegedly good for me. 9 months ago

and often it is earned by noticing some self-ignorance.

I’ve been fighting with a local office of the VA on behalf of an elderly friend (who fought for us in WWII). It’s been frustrating. My kid is doing some tough growing up, and listening supportively has been very frustrating (sometimes I wish I could just tell him what to do—but oh, wait, I’m not him! Sigh.) Then my feet began kicking up the chronic pain…. THAT again.

I am one of those folks who gets her kicks being helpful to others. That’s fine until the demand outstrips supply, and suddenly Ms. Helpful turns into Ms. Angry Overwhelmed. Not so helpful!

And I indeed snapped. Not a big deal, just one cross sentence said too loudly, and I have already apologized to my adult son for losing it. No permanent damage done.

So it appears I haven’t made it to sainthood yet. (heh) The need for real vacation is showing, and I have already scheduled it.

For my next trip, I will schedule the real, actual, not-going-away-to-help-others vacation BEFORE I yell at anyone. You read it first here! 9 months ago

Only wish I had some of the usual kind to give. Jessy, the best of luck to you and to Nick!!!!! 9 months ago

Wishing you and your family a lovely day today, and a beautiful year ahead! 9 months ago

I really love your “rawrrrrrrr!” 10 months ago

that sometime in the future you’ll give it another try. Donating blood during a fast is not ideal – choose a time when you can eat a reasonable meal and when you can be well-hydrated. That will make a big difference in how your blood flows.

Still, good for you making the effort!

I never got the hang of All Consuming, but that was at least partly because when I was in school (when it launched) I was consumed and consuming only school school school!

Will give it a look – thank you for the idea. 10 months ago

Ah, the joys of a good historical whodunit! I stumbled upon the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters (pen name of Egyptologist Barbara Mertz) when I was looking for books about Hatshepsut. I’m several books in at this point, and it’s mostly silly fun but written by someone who knows her stuff about archaeologists and their work. Our heroine, Amelia, is an Edwardian lady archaeologist married to an Indiana Jones-like character and they have Adventures. Her motto seems to be “never leave home without your gun and your parasol.” As I said, silly fun.

I love a book that takes to a world I can’t visit myself! 10 months ago

This is the Saul Alinsky classic from 1971 that conservatives hate so much. I just read about him in an article in Jewish Currents; I was pretty ignorant about him other than as a name that the Right likes to throw around as the Bogey Man.

Sounds like my kind of guy. Haven’t read it yet, will do so this week. 10 months ago

Ever since I left school 4 years ago, I’ve read books like a maniac. It’s just so much fun to be able to choose them and read them!

I realize, though, that except for the list on my nook (which is not nearly all I’ve read) that I don’t keep track of it anywhere. So I’m going to start doing that here. 10 months ago

I constantly struggle with this. Things I do to combat it:

1. I have trusted friends with whom I “reality check” to break out of my little bubble of nonsense. These are good people who have known me for a long time, and who WILL let me know if I actually get the “big head.”

2. I make a habit of replying to compliments with “Thank you for the kind words.” Then I do my best to TAKE IT IN, at least as a hypothesis. After all, they MIGHT be right.

3. I actively work on the areas in which I am MEASURABLY in need of improvement. Wallowing in imposterism is no excuse for failure to grow and improve.

4. I am vigilant against the urge to hide my shortcomings. Rather, I try to be honest about them and then MOVE ON – there is too much to be done in the world for me to indulge myself in private “dramah” over my perceived imperfections.

5. I remind myself all the time of a verse in an old Jewish document, Mishnah Avot 2:21:
“He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say, it is not upon you to complete the task, but you are not free to refrain from doing anything.” So whatever I think of myself, it doesn’t really matter: I still need to try to do my bit. 10 months ago

What initially brought you to 43things? – an article criticizing it on Salon.com

How old are you? – 57

How long have you been posting here? – 7 years, 6 months

What is your favourite outdoor activity? – Admiring a beautiful view

Are you married or in a relationship? – married, although not legally, to the love of my life (we are two women in California.)

What is the biggest change that has happened in your life lately? – I’ve just lately begun to feel my aging very sharply. I think it has something to do with my eldest son turning 30.

What is your favourite thing to eat? – ice cream

Where do you go to relax? – home

What do you do for a living? – I’m a rabbi, teaching in informal venues in Northern California. 10 months ago

but I’ve had the goal, I’ve blogged about it, preached about it, cheered about it…. and now I’m going to release this goal to the universe.

It’s really hard to get people who don’t donate to donate. 10 months ago

Specifically, I hit a little depressive trough, triggered by a rather disappointing series of exchanges with a colleague, and until I got myself back on an even keel, the most glaring evidence that I was out of whack was my diet: fast food! diet soda! AUGH!

Now I’m back on track. It lasted about a week, and I didn’t die of it. But I am happy to be myself again. 10 months ago

that iTunes runs so much better on Apple computers because Apple is in the business of selling Apple computers. They want everyone to switch.

Just a thought. 10 months ago

And who knows… there may be a rabbis’ conference in Memphis one of these days…. 10 months ago

The cheapest way to fly from SF was to go to Atlanta, so I drove from there and will fly back out of there. So I’m off in the wrong direction for a visit—but it would be so much fun!

Glad to see your friendly font back on here! 10 months ago