What would happen if someone would sneak into this blog, for the first time in several years, and just drop some random thoughts here?
Would anyone notice?
Would it cause alarm? A wave of nostalgia, maybe, for both writer and reader?
Perhaps we will find out...
Friday, May 15, 2020
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Decorum and Manners
Or lack thereof.
This isn't a screed about the youth of today, or the pushiness of our neighbors. This isn't even a piece that will give many answers.
I am not sure if it started with people talking through speeches, dressing inappropriately casually for various occasions, or a lack of respect for leadership (when leaders actually choose to, you know, lead). I am not sure if a dismissal of all thing decorous started in the secular realm and has bled into our religious life, or if it's the other way around.
There's one thing I am pretty sure of, and it's the cause. The self centered, self focused, "I only do what feels good to me, there is no topic, event or person that I cannot be cynical and satirical about" attitude that has pervaded society as a whole. And unfortunately the Orthodox community has not been spared. Yes, yes, we live in an age of unprecedented chesed. That's all well and good, but we do not respect the institutions and people who are part of the make up of those we help.
What does that mean? If someone posts somewhere that they need a ride, say to a graduation at Lincoln Center, probably 30 people will respond, and help that person out. But once there, the graduates will not dress for the momentous occasion, and the family members will turn a ceremony that is the epitome of pomp and circumstance into complete bedlam well before the festivities have ended.
It just sounds cranky, I know, but the insidious way it has sprouted its tentacles through all parts of our lives is frightening. I wonder if the talking through a speech has spawned the automatic reaction, in which someone gets up to speak, and people immediately become transfixed by the device in their hands, or because people never listened anyway this was just a quieter way to be disrespectful and rude. I am perplexed as to how institutions, social mores, and general community attitudes have been so perverted.
I am rambling, so let me put it succinctly:
The narcissistic attitude of our society has made it so rules don't matter, nothing is important, nothing is sacred, and our desire to be comfortable and entertained at all times is really what drives everything that happens.
There, you can ignore the five paragraphs that preceded that.
This isn't a screed about the youth of today, or the pushiness of our neighbors. This isn't even a piece that will give many answers.
I am not sure if it started with people talking through speeches, dressing inappropriately casually for various occasions, or a lack of respect for leadership (when leaders actually choose to, you know, lead). I am not sure if a dismissal of all thing decorous started in the secular realm and has bled into our religious life, or if it's the other way around.
There's one thing I am pretty sure of, and it's the cause. The self centered, self focused, "I only do what feels good to me, there is no topic, event or person that I cannot be cynical and satirical about" attitude that has pervaded society as a whole. And unfortunately the Orthodox community has not been spared. Yes, yes, we live in an age of unprecedented chesed. That's all well and good, but we do not respect the institutions and people who are part of the make up of those we help.
What does that mean? If someone posts somewhere that they need a ride, say to a graduation at Lincoln Center, probably 30 people will respond, and help that person out. But once there, the graduates will not dress for the momentous occasion, and the family members will turn a ceremony that is the epitome of pomp and circumstance into complete bedlam well before the festivities have ended.
It just sounds cranky, I know, but the insidious way it has sprouted its tentacles through all parts of our lives is frightening. I wonder if the talking through a speech has spawned the automatic reaction, in which someone gets up to speak, and people immediately become transfixed by the device in their hands, or because people never listened anyway this was just a quieter way to be disrespectful and rude. I am perplexed as to how institutions, social mores, and general community attitudes have been so perverted.
I am rambling, so let me put it succinctly:
The narcissistic attitude of our society has made it so rules don't matter, nothing is important, nothing is sacred, and our desire to be comfortable and entertained at all times is really what drives everything that happens.
There, you can ignore the five paragraphs that preceded that.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
The Eitzah Lady is In
If you are struggling with a conundrum, time management, people in your life, shidduchim,general "I don't know what to do!" You have come to the right place.
Submit your questions either through the comments section -all comments are moderated, so if your question is chosen, It will only show up with an answer from the Eitzah Lady as a separate post, or the link to "contact us" on the right side of the blog. Please indicate if you want your name or "handle" used, please know we reserve the right to edit questions for space and appropriateness.
All answers are for entertainmet purposes only, and do not intend to be used as legal, psychological, financial or medical advice, though most medical advice would be one of two things: Get a strep test or get a Lyme test. We take no responsibility for what implementation of our "Eitzahs" will cause.
Ask your questions, help* may be one blog post a way.
*help as in entertainingly helpful,see above for full disclaimer!
Submit your questions either through the comments section -all comments are moderated, so if your question is chosen, It will only show up with an answer from the Eitzah Lady as a separate post, or the link to "contact us" on the right side of the blog. Please indicate if you want your name or "handle" used, please know we reserve the right to edit questions for space and appropriateness.
All answers are for entertainmet purposes only, and do not intend to be used as legal, psychological, financial or medical advice, though most medical advice would be one of two things: Get a strep test or get a Lyme test. We take no responsibility for what implementation of our "Eitzahs" will cause.
Ask your questions, help* may be one blog post a way.
*help as in entertainingly helpful,see above for full disclaimer!
Friday, April 8, 2016
This is unpolished, Just my feelings today...
There is nowhere that I go, and nothing that I do,
That I don’t wonder, who will make me rue
That I should have done the other thing, or stayed just
where I was
Not that I am needed per se, but, well, because.
They need me here, they need me there, I take some but not
all
I have not yet determined how to split myself, and be home
and in the the mall.
Even when I am on the floor and playing with my baby
I just have to wonder, should I be folding laundry, maybe.
Out with my husband, should I be home for the kids’ bath and
bed saga,
I left them with the older ones which adds to all the drama.
Do they resent pitching in, and helping me survive?
Because sometimes I need to get away just to feel alive,
That vibrant way I felt when I did not feel so torn,
Of course it only lasts a few minutes, which makes me feel
forlorn.
Wherever I go,and whatever I do, I am fractured into pieces
The ones that want me to be everything to everyone, it
causes lots of creases
They are on my skin in wrinkles, and in my heart the same
Even though it’s been awhile, I don’t think I’ve learned the
game.
I don’t know how to go and do and be, and be fully present
and aware
Which makes me wonder if wherever I go, am I really there?
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Welcome to the Soothsayer's Ball
Hey everyone, good news:
It's time for the Seventh Annual IcebergCarwash Stock Market Contest.
You know the drill.
Using the comments section below, offer your prediction for the closing level of the S&P 500 Index at the end of 2015.
The entry which comes closest to the actual number, above or below, will be the winner.
Technically, there is some slight chance that a prize might be involved, but I doubt it.
My prediction is that we will see a carry-over of the volatility that we saw in December.
For a closing price, however, I will estimate that the S&P 500 will be essentially unchanged from yesterday's closing price of 2,058.00. Rounding off, I'll officially set my prediction at 2,060.00.
Good luck to all contestants.
It's time for the Seventh Annual IcebergCarwash Stock Market Contest.
You know the drill.
Using the comments section below, offer your prediction for the closing level of the S&P 500 Index at the end of 2015.
The entry which comes closest to the actual number, above or below, will be the winner.
Technically, there is some slight chance that a prize might be involved, but I doubt it.
My prediction is that we will see a carry-over of the volatility that we saw in December.
For a closing price, however, I will estimate that the S&P 500 will be essentially unchanged from yesterday's closing price of 2,058.00. Rounding off, I'll officially set my prediction at 2,060.00.
Good luck to all contestants.
We Have a Winner!
Incredibly, I managed to go an entire calendar year, without posting anything to IcebergCarwash.
My restraint is unbelievable.
Actually, I wasn't sure that IcebergCarwash still existed. For some reason, I was under the impression that FBB had sold the name.
It turns out that IcebergCarwash is still up and running, so we need to announce the winner of the 2014 IcebergCarwash Stock Market Contest.
The S&P 500 closed at 2058.90, up 11.4% for the year.
Looking at last year's entries:
MBB: 1950.00
Wolfman: 2150.57
RabbiM: 1500.00
SLiM: 1622.89
The winner, for the second consecutive year, is Wolfman.
Congratulations.
As always, any prize-related inquiries should be directed to FBB.
My restraint is unbelievable.
Actually, I wasn't sure that IcebergCarwash still existed. For some reason, I was under the impression that FBB had sold the name.
It turns out that IcebergCarwash is still up and running, so we need to announce the winner of the 2014 IcebergCarwash Stock Market Contest.
The S&P 500 closed at 2058.90, up 11.4% for the year.
Looking at last year's entries:
MBB: 1950.00
Wolfman: 2150.57
RabbiM: 1500.00
SLiM: 1622.89
The winner, for the second consecutive year, is Wolfman.
Congratulations.
As always, any prize-related inquiries should be directed to FBB.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year
By now you all know my thoughts on the Summer. You also know what we do in the summer time, because we tend to repeat our activities.
This week was blueberry picking. So fun, so yum, so hot! On the way home we stopped at a nearby place with a "boardwalk trail" under a beautiful and cool canopy of trees. The kids had a great time, saw turtles, some interesting birds, and lots of outdoorsiness.
MBB channeled my sister by saying: "Anyone who isn't outside today, really needs to have been given some sort of special dispensation."
When we got home tired and sun soaked (the adults), it seems it was time for backyard soccer, basketball, and some baseball. I watched, built something, and when they were done with all their activities they started cleaning the outside of the car. On 4th of July weekend.
After that was there any choice, but to have hot dogs for dinner?
This week was blueberry picking. So fun, so yum, so hot! On the way home we stopped at a nearby place with a "boardwalk trail" under a beautiful and cool canopy of trees. The kids had a great time, saw turtles, some interesting birds, and lots of outdoorsiness.
MBB channeled my sister by saying: "Anyone who isn't outside today, really needs to have been given some sort of special dispensation."
When we got home tired and sun soaked (the adults), it seems it was time for backyard soccer, basketball, and some baseball. I watched, built something, and when they were done with all their activities they started cleaning the outside of the car. On 4th of July weekend.
After that was there any choice, but to have hot dogs for dinner?
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