Best Wishes....

....To all our readers and followers, both the commenters and the lurkers, we appreciate you! We wish you all health, happiness, prosperity and peace in the coming year!

Back to School

I went to two "back to school nights" so far this week (the third is on Thursday). For those  uninformed, "back to school night" is the night you come to your kids classroom, squeeze into their teensy little desk, and meet the teacher  as s/he gives a short presentation of  the expectations and curriculum for the year.

School is a wonderous place.  A wellspring of growth and learning, if you open your mind you will most assuredly learn new things.

I have learned a lot in the past two nights.

I have learned that some kids (3rd grade)take cookies for lunch. Some kids never clean out their knapsacks, and some kids never have supplies, go to sleep on time,or bathe regularly.

But mostly I have learned that teachers have been trained to keep the parents as uninvolved as possible.   "DON'T WORRY! We do all research in school, you don't have to go to the library! If you can't sign the homework (all of ten seconds) don't worry, just sign it the next night, or let an older child do it! FEAR NOT! We won't give any assignments or work or responsibilties that will have you busy with YOUR children! We know that they and their schooling are nothing but a burden, and we will do our utmost to keep you out of it!" (I'm paraphrasing, but barely)

The most ridiculous element of this is there are those parents to whom this hands off policy  is a wonderful development!  (It seems so odd contrasted with the parents who need to hear "please do not do your daughters report/project/poster/cover/diorama for her."  likely the same parents who are still doing homework with their sixth graders. I know everyone is on a different level, but at that point in the schooling career, you just ask if they did, or check that it's done. I don't think it's appropriate to helicopter at that age, and SIT and do homework/reports with them.)

Do the parents who show up need to hear that "we won't ask you for much!"? There were  two women who left a wedding to come, and two women who were running a tzedaka party who came anyway. These seem like fairly involved parents, as are most of the parents who show up. Unfortunately, I think many of these policies are a direct result of years of complaints from parents who felt they and/or their children were overburdened by what is essentially the training round for life. My policy is always  to challenge children in a controlled environment because life can be challenging, so why not give them the skills and ability to cope in a fairly innocuous and safe environment.

I just rankle at this idea that they proudly tell us how little we need to do for our children.

It's Only Fair to Share

You know who you are.

We also know who you are.

Soon, the entire nation will know who you are.

You are the evil, manipulative, oppressor of the masses, he/she who dares to earn more than $250,000 per annum.

For too long, you have exploited your innocent brethren, taking advantage of rules that were slanted heavily in your favor.

You reveled in your privileged upbringing, as you trod upon those less fortunate.

You stopped at nothing in your pursuit of money, and did not exhibit the appropriate level of concern for our Planet.

You caused the Global Recession.

You destroyed the housing market.

You brought the international banking system to the brink of ruin.

In your company, the Greeks were compelled to act frivolously. As were the Italians. And the Irish. And the Spanish. (Perhaps even the French. Check back with us in a couple of months).

You convinced your colleagues to buy things they could not afford, and to accept upon themselves the burden of more debt than they could handle.

You threw millions of your peers out of work.

Worst of all, until this point, you have brazenly refused to pay your fair share.

Laugh not, wealthy wanton sinner.

Your day of reckoning has arrived.

As a non-threatening, non-denominational deity or otherwise impartial being possessing above-average levels of spirituality is our witness, your fair share will, in fact, be paid.

We will seek you out, and bring you to justice.

Do not attempt to resist us, for we cannot be resisted.

Our mandate is clear and our cause is righteous, as it has been established by the Great Post-racial and Post-economic One. The wisest and most eloquent of all men. He Who Has Invented Hope.

You shall be branded as pariahs, and heaped with scorn.

You shall be branded as "millionaires and billionaires," even if your income is a fraction of those lofty levels.

You will be branded as "system riggers" and "playing field de-levelers."

You shall be made to pay your fair share.

Unworthy beings, do not waste your time attempting to repent for your unforgivable sin.

There will be no repentance. Only justice. Only the payment of the Fair Share.

For it is only when the Fair Share is paid, that we can truly bask in the benevolent light of Hope, and taste the sweet nectar of equality.

You know who you are.

And soon, you will pay your fair share.


Blogger's Note: If you currently earn more than $250,000 per year, but belong to the management of a labor union, or are numbered among the ranks of left-leaning academia or media, please disregard the above message. IcebergCarwash sincerely apologizes for any distress the above message might have caused you or any of your non-human companions.

I've Had It

I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before, but I'm getting more and more upset by what I see as the fakery parading as frumkeit.

Every week when I read Mishpacha Magazine I am reminded of this again as they will not print pictures of women, and if they do, they blur the faces.

My niece recently looked at a picture of a Rebbe dancing at his daughter's wedding surrounded by at least 2,000 Chasidim on bleachers. The picture was taken at the Mitzvah Tantz, and you can see the Rebbe is holding a gartel. Logically, his daughter is at the end of that gartel, but out of the picture. My niece asked a brilliant question which I will add my own little addition to: This woman can stand in the center of a room full of THOUSANDS of men, THE ONLY FEMALE, and we need to blur the face of an 89 year old Asian woman being saved from the flooding from Hurricane Irene?????

It's Ludicrous. It's ludicrous and once again it focuses on the wrong things. If we are so afraid that our "heimishe" magazines will cause problems for men who will be sent into a spiritual downfall from seeing a picture of a ten year old girl standing at the rail of a ship  in 1922, then I think are problems are so vast we should give up now.  How can there be any hope of anyone being close to G-d if the most innocuous pictures and viewing will send one hurtling to the depths of impurity. I think those who cannot see the faces of these women should never leave their houses, and if they do they should wear a hood and dark glasses to easily avert their eyes. Those that truly subscribe to this, actually do it, so all those who feel that Mishpacha could be treif need to stop reading it. Who knows what other nefarious things printed in the magazine will get in their way.

That really is the solution. Family First already bills itself as a woman's magazine. Tell men not to read it, and if they do, it's their choice and their spiritual calculation. I hate that my daughters are growing up in this world of the disappearing woman. Unless she goes out to work. Then she can be anywhere and everywhere, and travel for hours...but that's a different rant

The Summer Sputters to an End

I had a really nice summer. The first half was quiet with more than half the kids away for four weeks. After that it was just nice, calm, and then sister from Michigan was around (are those two mutually exclusive?).

We went to the beach twice, which apparently I still do not enjoy doing, HOWEVER, the second time was definitely better this year. Maybe because the umbrella broke in the wind and instead of everyone trying to squoosh into the shady spot we just kind of relaxed in a large circle of chairs and towels (and cabana for next generation baby who came along with his mother).

The best part of the summer was the kayaking. I decided I would try to kayak at least once a week, and I did it. I dealt with the guilt of leaving the kids and going off to do something I loved,by myself, and I managed seven times to make my way up to a nice spot that rents kayaks. I had different partners each time, and one time when my partner could not make it, I went alone. That was fantastic. I love the company, but I really loved going alone. So much so, the next week, when my friend wanted to come with me on Thursday, I went on Wednesday myself, and then Thursday with her. As we paddled (two separate kayaks- I will not do a double...ever again) and floated she asked if she was "messing up my routine." I said "don't worry, I came yesterday."
The best part is I made a goal and stuck to it, with a lot of encouragement from a lot of people, and I appreciate it.

The problem is, I still want to kayak, and child care is a little harder to come by now that  all kids are back in school. It might be chilly, but I would like to try to get back in the paddle again at least twice before November. I'd love more, but I'm being realistic.

As obsessions go, at least this one is healthy, and gives me solitude, time to think and reflect, in unwired silence.

Peace.

Odd Experience

Technically this could go under Grocery Adventures II, but it was so strange that at first I was thrown and then I was better able to reflect on what had happened.

I was about to make lasagna for  this evening's dinner, and as my little helper was washing her hands I was laying out the materials we would need. When I went to get the noodles, I saw that we only had four whole wheat lasagna noodles left. So a quick glance at the clock told me there was time for a fast run to Shoprite, with little browsing I could be back and forth in 35 minutes, get the lasagna in the oven and still be home for the first wave of school returnees.

The shopping was uneventful (though I  noted many carts laden as mine was- baby in the front and 3-4 year old in the back!), and we rapidly made our way to the checkout line. I randomly chose a line that had one woman who appeared to be finishing up. I pulled in behind her, and my little back seat carter proudly started to unload her cardboard and plastic enrobed seat mates.  We had about seven items total. The woman, who looked to be in her early to mid seventies, smiled at my daughter and chuckled as she watched her, and said "I think she's going to line everything up!"

I smiled back and we chatted about nothing while she received her change. She turned to the proud four year old who had done an excellent job unloading the cart, and handed her two dollars, and said:
"You get two because you are big girl, and this one is for your brother."

She then handed the baby a dollar bill. First, I was dumbstruck. Then I told her "Thank you very much, but we cannot accept this."
She replied: "These kids need to take it so that when they see an old lady they will know that she is nice."

I protested again, and she smiled, and turned to leave the store. I thought about going up to her in the parking lot when I realized that she needed us to accept this gift.  Not necessarily for the reason she said, but perhaps she is feeling something today (or maybe many days) maybe associated with her age, or just had this desire to make the kids happy. Neither of them understand the value of a dollar-in fact the 4 year old offered it to me on the way out "if you need more dollars Mommy, you can have from me if you don't have enough."

The crazy thing is this Shoprite is in the vicinity of 4 different senior housing complexes (some assisted, some not), and some of those people seem really old, and look like what you would call an "old lady," but this woman was not.

I was thinking about if she had handed my kid a bag of two dollar candy would I have thought it odd? Probably, because it's excessive, one would suffice (or nothing, but I'm going with the giving), but still not as odd as the money. It was a spur of the moment decision for her, because she gave the singles from the change she received from the cashier.

It also brought up the whole "why do strangers hand things to my kids," issue, but I guess if people are not in this mode of being suspicious about everything, to know to ask,  then maybe  the world has not gone to hell yet.

The cashier put it well after the woman left:

"You don't meet people who are nice for no reason very often."

Sighing

A rare entry from one of the blogberg children (second oldest)

He sighs...
the monotony of life
same old traffic
same old office building
same old view
the only difference
the leaves changing color
fall, September 11
He sighs...
same old parking spot
same old doorman
same old elevator ride
up to the 90th floor
same old view
No!
great dark clouds of billowing smoke
pillars of flame
building collapsing
furniture overturned
bloodcurdling screams
chaos confusion crying
He sighs...
a low moan from deep inside
of intense pain
and paralyzing fear
crawling to the stairs
his shirt ripped off
wrapped around his mouth
acrid smoke stings his eyes
Finally...
the stairs
packs of people
rushing
screaming
as floors above cave in
finally...
finally...
he bursts through the smoke
the fire
the rubble
a rescue worker sees him
He sighs....
blood trickles from a cut above his eye
face scratched
torn clothing
covered in soot
limping
staggering
collapsing
loaded onto a stretcher
siren wailing
lights flashing
rushed to the hospital
He sighs...
pain courses through his body
his room is full of flowers
cards
visitors
but he is empty
his entire life reduced to rubble
everything important to him
burned from 100 floors up
down to ground zero
He sighs...
wishing
dreaming
for the monotony of life
same old traffic
same old office building
same old view
same old life
He sighs....

Grocery Adventures

A large part of my life it seems, is spent grocery shopping. As such on occasion I come upon weird happenings and products.

Yesterday, I was at the local grocery store and was looking through the meat case to see if there was anything interesting to bring home for the coming Holidays. The way it works here is if you see it? Buy it. Unless you want to stand around in the back room surrounded by sides of beef watching customers slip on the bits of fat strewn on the crimson stained floor, waiting for the meat room personnel  to give you the pieces you want. A twenty minute trip can take an hour or more.

Well, looking through the case I found a small package of what appeared to be well marbled beef. The piece was no thicker than a box of cigarettes laid on its side, and no longer than six inches. I looked at the name of this meat with a cute "I'm new" sticker affixed to the front, and saw it was called "Surprise Steak." Then I looked at the price and I saw what the "Surprise" was.  
$37.99 PER POUND!!!!!!!

I showed it to one of the women who work in the store, just in a "can you believe this?" kind of way (she was in the aisle), and she said "that must be a mistake." I knew it was not a mistake, because I have seen other pricey cuts at other stores in the neighborhood. She came back with the meat guy who told me it was not a mistake (which I knew), but then he explained why it was pricey. He said to get this particular cut, a lot of others cuts end up ruined, so they need to make it expensive.

People are crazy!

Rhetorician-in-Chief

As our incredibly stubborn recession grinds on, with the U.S. economy expected by most economists to grow at less than a 2.0% annual rate (if at all), the jobs picture remains bleak.

Headed into the Labor Day weekend, we were informed that no jobs were added to the economy in August, and the unemployment rate remains at 9.1%. Other numbers, such as the underemployment rate, the average length of unemployment and the labor participation rate, further underscore the dire situation in which we find ourselves.

Against this bleak backdrop, President Obama is scheduled to address the nation this week, ostensibly to reveal his plan for creating jobs.

This speech is probably one of the most important ones in Mr. Obama's political career. The nation is waiting for him to exhibit leadership, and to provide and promote concrete ideas for putting Americans back to work.

With that in mind, here are some things that I believe the President should not do in the course of delivering this critical address:

(1) Blame the current situation on the previous administration.

(2) Blame the current situation on Wall Street profiteers.

(3) Indicate that there are those who need to "pay their fair share."

(4) Mention the importance of protecting the environment while growing the economy.

(5) Congratulate himself for implementing health care reform (when he should have been focusing on job creation).

(6) Talk about the need for long-term tax reform.

(7) Talk about the need for "responsible" deficit reduction.

(8) Speak petulantly about anyone - from either party - who does not agree with him.

Items #6 and #7, while important, don't really have a place in this week's address. Americans want to hear specific details about what the administration will do now to create jobs. The bigger picture budget discussions are for another day.

With the foregoing list in mind, here's what I predict the President will talk about this week in his address:

(1) The previous administration's culpability in creating the current situation.

(2) The profits that Wall Street has generated even as millions of Americans remain out of work.

(3) The need for some portions of the population to pay their fair share.

(4) The importance of protecting the environment while growing the economy.

(5) The recent reform of health care laws.

(6) The need for long-term tax reform.

(7) The need for "responsible" deficit reduction.

(8) The idea that anyone who opposes him is at best a fool, and at worst, wishes harm upon our nation.

In summary, I fully expect the President to discuss everything that he shouldn't mention.

This is because President Obama simply can't help himself.

He is a self-absorbed idealist, who doesn't possess the skill needed to lead.
Oftentimes, the "smartest guy in the room" is completely useless when bullets start to fly.

In addition, the reason we're not likely to hear any good job creation ideas from the President is that neither he nor his merry band of liberal advisers have any.

Of course, it's probably unfair of me to indict the President's address days before it's even delivered. Perhaps he'll surprise us, and provide something meaningful and insightful.

I'm not holding my breath.

It's Funny Cuz It's True

Our almost 14 year old just came back from a trip to Israel. Her grandparents took her and her 12 year old cousin in honor of their bas mitzvahs (one was belated, obviously). The girls had a super time, and our daughter was regaling us with details of her activities.

"Cousin and I did this," "Cousin and I went here," "Cousin and I walked there,"  "Cousin and I saw this," "Cousin and I saw that..." said the traveler.

Little-Miss-Sleep-in-the- Laundry-Room, couldn't take it anymore. "Cousin and I, cousin and I, SAY COUSIN AND ME! OR ME AND COUSIN!!!"

MBB gently explained that "you know, 'Cousin and I' is grammatically correct."

She thought a moment and countered with:

"Well it's GRAMMATICALLY ANNOYING "

Not a Place I Want to Be

I recently had an interaction with a fellow who I will call Pomp. Pomp is short for pompous, and the name is apt because I have never in my life, that I can easily recall, had an interaction with someone who was so pompous and condescending and so full of himself while being full of something else at the same time.

I contacted Pomp because he was in charge of a project that was accepting bids for certain contracted work. There's a fellow I know who needs jobs, is good at what he does, and I wanted to know if the bidding was still open. Eventually he told me that the guy could contact him to get the bid info, but this was also after telling me that everyone in business is just out for themselves, and essentially if you ever have loyalty to someone who does work in your house you are a fool, because they will just cheat you. The fact that you know a job will be done well, and guaranteed with good service in the case of a problem is moot. It all comes down to getting the best price, and if you don't well then the world is gonna take advantage of you.

How sad. How sad and pathetic. This man claims to be a businessman, well I know plenty of businessmen who would very much be out of business if their relationships with their customers and suppliers were not a factor in their dealings. If everything were always only based on the best deal then only the cheapest companies would make money.

I was reading an article this weekend about my favorite Mayor, Michale Bloomberg. As much as I chide him for his pomposity and nannyish ways, he is a huge philanthropist, and also loyal to a fault to his executives and political aides. Now, this is a guy who has made loyalty part of who he is, and part of who he is is a billionaire. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet it's not an attribute he developed AFTER he made all that money.

I feel sad for Pomp that he lives in such a cynical world, a world in which everyone is out to get you. The main thing I realized is that I never want to do business with him, and certainly if ever I am in need of his services, I would certainly look elsewhere, even if he's cheaper. Because relationships matter, and I don't want to live in a world where they don't.