Category Archives: friendship

October 13, 2008 · 8:55 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday

Wow, Tuesday again? Jeez, I could cry but I don’t have….

Ok, that was lame. Sorry.

I thought a lot about what belonged here this week. Since the last TtCT I have spent a lot of time with family and community for the Jewish holidays. This time of year leaves us Jews all sorts of reflective.

I could have written about the moving sermons given by our clergy (fabulous, actually). Or some of the touching moments with my family. Or how hard it is to have a holiday without our dear sweet Jana-girl. (there we all go, tears are starting).

But there was one incident that stood out this week for me. I have already shared it with a few of you so if you want to go get a cup of coffee now and come back tomorrow I will understand.

On Yom Kippur evening I was near the entrance of the synagogue greeting congregants. (Over-volunteer job #10,000: Synagogue Board Member). An elderly gentleman that I have known for many years came into the lobby with his tie undone. He has not been well for the past few years yet he always makes the effort to attend services. He looked agitated and was asking if we had seen his friend who he asked for by name. With kindess and grace a man I was standing with gently guided this man off to the side and offered to help him with his tie. He had a calming way of helping him with the dignity and compassion that he deserved.

The beautiful thing about this story is that the helper was not someone I would have expected this from. This was a genuine gesture of caring that was so in the spirit of the holiday that it took my breath away. Just a simple act of kindness that made all the difference to someone who has suffered so much.

People will surprise you.

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Filed under communities, friendship, religion

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September 28, 2008 · 12:35 am

The hand dryer that can blow your mind

We were out to dinner tonight (it seems like I eat out a lot lately, doesn’t it?). I went to the bathroom and there, next to the sink was the most incredible thing.

The Dyson Airblade hand dryer.

You know that guy from the vacuum commercials who makes you think that he is always inventing a better way to suck stuff up and makes you feel really ignorant for having that stupid 10-year-old Miele when you have a dog that sheds?

Oops, off on another noise-in-my-head tangent, sorry about that. So this guy designed what has to be the most incredible hand dryer. You stick your hands in and it looks like it is going to rip the skin right off them. Of course the crazy friends that I was with decided we should try to take pictures of one of us putting our face in there to see if we could simulate the look of a face lift.

Unfortunately the space was too narrow and she could only insert her hands.

When we got back to the table the guys asked us what we were doing. Um, well there is this really cool dryer and, well, we thought it would be funny if…

never mind.

They seemed to know all about the dryer, so we asked if they had ever tried to put other body parts in there.

Hey, talk about a blow job.

(sorry Jana – I know – ‘ew mom!’)

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Filed under absurdities, friendship, humor, humor, Uncategorized

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September 15, 2008 · 10:40 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday

This past weekend we had the good fortune of attending the Bar Mitzvah of the son of dear friends. These particular friends have been living in the theatre of the absurd for the past few months and it was a joy to be with them in celebration instead of misery. (well perhaps both, but that is not what this post is about.)

Their synagogue is one with a very different style of worship. As Reconstructionist Jews they are encouraged to bring a piece of who their family is into the service. This included select non- sectarian readings of the likes of Robert Frost and Langston Hughes. They flatteringly included the lyrics to Better Things from a Time to Cry Tuesday past as well as the lyrics to songs that were dear to them and the ideals of their family.

I am here to post about one such song. Their eldest son, who holds the connection between our two families as we met when he and my daughter were in elementary school together, performed a song that just near broke my heart. He has grown into a really cool young man, one whom I enjoy spending time with and am honored that the feeling is mutual.

The rabbi introduced the song with a preface about the current military situation that our country has found itself in. He spoke about mothers, spouses and children who have suffered losses that get lost in the propaganda and politicization of these wars. This beautiful 19-year-old boy I have known for most of his life, got up with his guitar and sang the Dispatch song, The General.

I sat in this holy space and listened with my whole heart to the words of a young man who was fortunate to be born into a generation that has not known the draft. But with his words and through his heartfelt performance I felt the pain and fear we all hold for the families of the soldiers who so bravely volunteered for the armed services of this country. And I gave thanks that, for now, my 16-year-old son (whose birthday is today making this all the more poignant for me) is safe from the fear of being drafted.

The chorus of this is written from the point of view of a General in battle. It says it all:

I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers
and I will no other
to follow me where I’m going

Take a shower, shine your shoes
you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
go now you are forgiven

May those who defend this country come home safely and may this madness end!

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Filed under current events, family, friendship, parenting, Time to Cry Tuesdays

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September 15, 2008 · 5:19 pm

Don’t worry, I am still alive


Ok, so here is another really cool thing about blogging.

People miss you when you don’t post. You become a regular part of someone’s day and you leave a void when you are gone. I kind of love that!

This morning I received an email from a blog friend making sure I was OK because she did not find a new post from me. How cool is that? AND, when doing a little IM session with my daughter, she asked about it too.

Who said the internet was impersonal?

For reasons I will not disclose here (alright because frankly I drank too much both Saturday and Sunday night celebrating with friends) I did not post yesterday. And also because it is my birthday and I did not want to obnoxiously solicit birthday wishes (yeh, well, decided I would anyway).

For those who are interested… 49. (haha, when I went to type that the first time it came out as 40, Freudian fingers). Really. 49. Not 50 lying about my age, really 49. And proud(ish).

Thanks for missing me, even those of you who did not mention it (or did not miss me and frankly welcomed the break from my insane ramblings).

Uh oh, tomorrow is Time to Cry Tuesday and it is a killer…

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Filed under blogging, friendship, humor, Jana

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August 31, 2008 · 10:48 pm

The Perfect Labor Day Outfit

I will be shamelessly self-promoting my new photo blog, leaving the zip code, here from now on. You won’t be disappointed, I promise. Let’s see if some of you will take the ‘submit’ challenge.

Once again, I have illustrated why you should always carry a camera. Or why I should, anyway.

The image gods dropped this babe for me from photography heaven.

After the most perfect beach day imaginable, spent with my one of my BFFs from childhood, we stopped at a local lobster market to pick up dinner.

As we were getting back in the car we happened upon this couple. Fumbling for my camera we lost sight of them. Off we rode down the block into the belly of the beast of bars and restaurants until we caught up with them.

I love black leather boots on Labor Day Weekend! What was that rule about wearing white?

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Filed under carry a camera, fashion, friendship, humor, photography, trends

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August 28, 2008 · 11:38 pm

Love/hate relationship with Spanx

I know. I spend way too much time making references to Spanx. If I spent that much time doing sit-ups I could finally lose this Spanx jones and get that lycra monkey off my back/ass. (oh, sorry, i digress into my Jimi Hendrix persona now and then). 

So, when one of my BBFFs (best blog friends forever), Finding Blanche, posted this video today with a suggestion by Mary (below) that we continue the love with this one, I jumped at the chance. It is long but so funny (almost as funny as my Seth Diamond video) you will go back and watch at least parts of it again. This is why I love the internet! This one is actually the Leggs version. (hey, maybe I should try those)

Here is the history: Finding Blanche posted this after she found it on Gnightgirl who posted it after she found it on Fighting Mad Mary who found it on GloZell. That’s whose it is, by the way. GloZell’s.

Would love to see this keep on going. Any takers for tomorrow?

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Filed under fashion, friendship, humor, products, trends, women

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August 25, 2008 · 9:54 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday

(don’t worry, tomorrow I will be funny again and tell you all about the lunatics at UPS and the 21lb box of missing shoes)

I hope tomorrow you’ll find better things

Friendship.

There are days when I wonder how I would be able to go on without the people in my life that ground me. Those who are there… no matter what. And I try my best to be there for them.

The stars must  be aligned in a funky way, as quite a few special people in my life are going through some very trying times.

Lately I have heard a lot of sadness and worry.

And of course waking up at 4AM to drive to Milwaukee and fly away from my sweet daughter only added to the melancholy feeling of the day.

But as luck would have it, there always seems to be some cosmic intervention that makes me sit up and take notice.

To listen.

This morning, as I drove into the most magnificent sunrise (note picture taken from the steering wheel at 70mph), Sirius radio gave me a wonderful gift. They played a favorite old Kinks song, Better Things.

To those who are suffering the tough times, those who are just feeling a little sad about their kids growing up and their lives changing, and even those who just need to look towards the future, here are my fave lines from this song:

Here’s hoping all the days ahead
Won’t be as bitter as the ones behind you.
Be an optimist instead,
And somehow happiness will find you.
Forget what happened yesterday,
I know that better things are on the way…

Accept your life and what it brings.
I hope tomorrow you’ll find better things. 

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August 20, 2008 · 9:53 pm

Why You Should Always Carry a Camera…Everywhere!

NOTE: Shameless self-promotion here. Check out my new photography blog, Leaving the Zip Code. Scroll down and take a look at the past posts. And note this one is designed to be participatory – see the Submit page for details.

For those who have been reading along, you know I have been carrying my camera everywhere. You never know what you might see. This great little camera has a vid option that is kinda cool in a raw and artsy sort of way.

Everyone, meet my dear old friend Seth Diamond. You will find his picture next to the word ‘character’ in the dictionary. This vid was taken at breakfast in a tiny little town in the Adirondacks called North Creek. The waitress was rumored to have a beautiful voice but was quite shy. Seth volunteered to sing first and, well, he got carried away. Gary went back to the our room at the motel and of course he happened to have the Stylistics song on his ipod.

Seth, you make us all feel brand new, baby!

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August 16, 2008 · 10:11 pm

Best Friends are from Mars, Cheerleaders are from Venus

(I can’t wait to see how many search terms I get with cheerleaders in them)

Today Gary played in the tennis club mixed doubles tournament with Joanne. (yes, she is still talking to us even after she watched our dog five weekends in a row, one of which the dog bit her husband Marc’s toe trying to get a tennis ball).

Being the good spouse – no jokes please – I went to watch. Ok, so maybe as much in support for Jo as for Gary. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Marc (Gary’s friend since birth) AND my father-in-law (an avid blog devotee I might add – hey Boss!). Talk about show no mercy, these guys were ruthless. And hysterical. The running commentary was fantastic. The two closest men in his life had is number, big time. He could not get away with a single gesture. They read his body language like a book.

And there is Joanne out on the court. The greatest cheerleader of them all. The ultimate optimist. What a tennis partner. It was touching how nice she was to him, way nicer than I am for sure (that would be the ‘other husband rule’).

Sadly, they did not win, but put up an honorable fight.

Conversation after the match:

Gary: Jo, you are such a great cheerleader out there.

Joanne: I like to keep things positive. I kept complimenting him when he had a great shot. I told him to keep focused – we could still turn things around. When we hit a slump, I cheered him on.

Marc: Ridiculous! When he gets like that I just tell him to stop being such a fucking mope!

Gary: Honestly, I react better to Marc’s tactics.

And that, my friends, is the difference between men and women in a nutshell.

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Filed under friendship, sports, Uncategorized

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July 14, 2008 · 10:58 pm

Dog in Street…

While we are on the subject of pets, here are a couple of real life stories about my sweet pup, Mel. For those who have noticed she is the dog with glasses on my avatar.

She is a white lab, definitely part rabbit and as sweet as can be. But she does suffer from the occasional bout of wanderlust (maybe she needs to be medicated).

The note above is an actual UPS post-it that I found on my front door few months ago. Having worked at home for many years, the UPS and Fed Ex guys know me pretty well. And they know my dog even better as she has a habit of running onto their trucks when they deliver here. Apparently she had gotten out of the back gate without my knowledge, the UPS guy found her and put her in the back, leaving me the note.

I have written this particular post today for my dear friend Joanne. You all know her, the one who does not know what spanx are. Joanne and I watch eachother’s dogs when we go away. They are like two old ladies together and they are very much at home in eachother’s houses.

This past weekend while we were whooping it up in Montauk, Mel was swimming in the pool at Joanne’s and getting the good dog food (the stuff in the can that I won’t feed her). Still not quite sure why she would want to wander from that Shangri-la, but you know how dogs can be.

Joanne called to tell me that she was in her house when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find the husband of another one of the First Thursday Girls with Mel in the front seat of his car. Apparently he was driving down the road and found her out for a stroll. As he said, good thing as that would be a pretty tough phone call to make…

“uh, well, like your dog is dead.” kind of a relationship killer, don’t you think?

i told her not to worry as the last time her dog was here she took off and I had four 15 year old boys running around the neighborhood in fear of that same dreaded phone call.

my husband’s response? if you kill my dog I am taking yours! (very adult)

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