Oh, By The Way...

....Isn't interesting how the male written blogs seems to be mightily prolific this time of year, while those more female authored are somewhat dormant?

Older and Wiser Indeed

I recently took a break from other activities to do an errand with one of my older girls. She refused to believe me when I advised her of certain truths, and tried to reason with her. The sales woman, older than me, and probably the mother of more children, just looked at me and said "There's nothing to talk about. This is what she needs. End of story."

Speaking to my mother later that evening we were discussing something in which she was explaining how I'd understand it as I get older(this incident with my daughter did not come up), she mentioned that her mother used to say "when I close my eyes, you'll open yours."

I find this a fascinating saying. My friend thought it was cold "you'll understand me when I'm dead." Knowing the person who said it (my grandmother), one of the warmest, most loving people I knew, I knew it was not meant in a cold way. Just, that by the time you figure it out, I'll be old enough to be gone.

Either way, it made me think of my grandmother. I miss her.

I May Be An Idiot, But I Still Can't Stand The Guy...

Last night I took the 16 year old into Manhattan for a special birthday dinner. She wanted a fuss about turning 16, and it was nice to spend the time with her. he time that was extended by a good 40 minutes, thanks to my good buddy, Michael Bloomberg.

I know for those who actually travel cross town on a regular basis, having no turns from 7th Ave/Broadway onto the streets between 47th and 42nd is great, but for those unawares it is a HUUUGE pain in the patooties. This being Manhattan, the signage is of course lousy, with big signs starting at 56th street about 7th avenue being the best route south. There is no mention that you end up on a pedestrian packed street (I knew)where you can't turn left for five blocks (I didn't know).

So after going in a circle once (mistakenly thinking that Broadway was on the other side of 7th at that point), I finally turned RIGHT (west, for those of you not geographically challenged) down 41st (the earliest point to make a turn) ended up on Eighth ave, then East (right)on 46th. It was a pretty quick trip up 46th, except the whole dodging tourists running to make their shows.

So yes, Times Square is great for all those tourists who come all the way from Podunk, Wisconsin and want to go to Applebees, The Olive Garden, the M&M store, and Toys R Us, but if you have any other business in the city, good luck.

Feeling Old

I know, I know. The majority of our cherished followers and readers are in fact older than me. However, I'm still starting to feel old. Not because of my age. No, I'm comfortable getting older. The scary part, is that I am now the mother of a 16 year old.

I know many of you have kids and/or grandkids who are older than that, but this feels so significant. Maybe it's the impending driving, or maybe it's just the intense and vivid memory of her being a few minutes old wrapped in a blanket and a hat, and just placidly looking up and blinking at me.

I hope we continue to celebrate lots of milestones together, and as I rapidly age (the driving, remember?)I can't wait to experience each one with her, and the other girls.

A Government For the People?

*****Warning: rambling screed ahead*******

The tenor of political "discourse" has gotten out of control. The words bi-partisan are bandied about as though there is even the slightest possibility that something could actually be accomplished. On the state and federal level politician are interested in their own aggrandizement in a media fueled world, where their witty attack sound bites get days of play.

The interests of the "party," and staying in power are what these elected officials appear to be most interested in. Plus, if they make a big enough name for themselves as a "good guest" on the ubiquitous cable news shows, they help ensure a fat paycheck and life in the private sector at the end of their political careers.

If the interests of the nation were at the heart of the matter, we'd have a decent jobs bill, with tax breaks and extended unemployment benefits (both achieve the same thing, give people more money in their pockets to spend, and industry picks up, fueling more jobs). We'd also have a short health care bill, that eliminated pre existing conditions disqualifications, capped premiums, allowed freedom of choice in health care, lowered costs, and insured those who can not afford to do so on their own. Is that a pipe dream? Is it even possible? No one really knows, because of all the extra stuffing in every bill it becomes hard to weed out what could really work.

Every time we elect a President now, there is a contigent grasping at straws to have the election nullified on specious grounds. Repeating ridiculous speculation does not make it fact, and trumping up charges to achieve political action is also not in the interest of the country. Gas bags on both sides of the aisle on radio and tv would be out of jobs if every single issue did not divide along party lines. Granted, each party has its lightning rods, those politicians who statements or idealogy are really at odds with others, but too often the established politicos look no further than the letter after someone's name to decide the position they will take.

There's too much of a political industry to let this stop. Spin doctors, advisors, lobbyists, political journalists, they all feed the flames because they need to. In the meantime the "fight for the soul of the country," has become a fallacy, all anyone is fighting for is their own personal gain.

I'm not sure if the scene after the vote on Bill Clinton's impeachment would ever repeat itself today. After a nasty fight, the votes to convict were counted. The nays had it. Trent Lott and Tom Daschle smiled at each other, shook hands and it was over. Not that that was a golden age of political sanity, far from it. I believe today the "fight" would continue in that situation. The votes called into question, and political pressure applied to those who voted (either way) the way they felt was right.

We elect individuals, but we don't really. They want to stay in power so they drop what they believe to maintain the backing of the big party machine, and often the rest of us suffer. The country should vote not only for elected officials, but the heads of each party. They seem to pull the strings.

It Took Awhile...

A little while ago, we promised pictures of the jester. MBB, did in fact need to clear away snow to put it in the ground, but luckily, that same snow soften the ground enough that hot water was not needed.

Generally, the jester goes up the Sunday before Purim, but we like to give him a breather out of the box, so we want him up at least a week. (kind of like Selichos). This year it should have been a proper week, but the weather got in the way (thus no picture).

We had rain all day Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday dumped over 20 inches of snow, with heavy snow laden-low hanging branches. The jester was safely hidden under a tarp, and we made a valiant effort to keep all 20 inches off of his blue plastic blanket. That snow was heavy. The children voiced their disappointment at having a Purim without him. So after I dropped them off Saturday night, I went out to free the jester from his snowy hibernation. Easier said then done. The snow was heavy, but slowly it came off the main part of the tarp. The jester was revealed. Getting the plug to extend over huge mounds of snow was not that simple, but once it was done, he started to fill, but not rise. Unfortunately, his supports were stuck under the deeper snow, so my victory was short lived. After a little more digging, he was released, and rose happily in the night- internal lights blazing.

All in all it was a harbinger of a great Purim. We had it up for a short time this morning ( I figured if the Chasidim can wear streimels today, I can put up the jester!)but it was too windy.

See you next year our inflatable friend!!