This weekend my just-turned nine year old had a sleepover party. We survived. No one got hurt. Nothing got damaged. The budget wasn't broken. Everyone had a great time. My middle son helped out a lot, the oldest one a little after coming back from watching his High School football game. Although it was rainy outside, and we were restricted to staying indoors, there was no rough-housing and it worked out really well.
So what did we do?
Used evites for the invitations. Since we were not inviting the entire class, we couldn't distribute invitations in class anyway. $0
The kids were asked to bring a sleeping bag, a pillow, and labelled hand-held electronic games. We invited seven, but only four could come.
We had pizza for dinner (where I live, when you show your PTA membership card at Papa John's, there's a buy one 14", get one deal, no matter how many pies you order). So I picked up the pizza on my way home from work, and kept warm in the oven. We ordered six, two too many, but this way the family has leftovers. The kids each had two or three slices; so did I. :-) $41-ish, but had I ordered only four (which was all I really needed to feed them and my family), it would've been $27-ish.
Gave the kids water bottles; made customized labels, with their names on it. $3 for the water?
Kids came at 6:30pm. After dinner, we had cake (I made it from a box, I admit). With frosting, let's say $2.50.
Then the kids watched a movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks. (We rented two DVDs from Blockbuster, so that's what, about $8?).
I made a few bags of store-brand microwave popcorn. Let's say another $2 or $3
Then we opened presents and then made T-shirts. I bought a package of "6-for-the-price-of-5" undershirts and printed out a bunch of coloring pages so the kids would have outlines of things they would like. Sometimes it's hard to come up with (and execute) ideas on your own. I cut up a box so that we could tape the chosen coloring page to the cardboard, and insert inside of the undershirt. This way, the boys could see the outline, they'd have a hard surface to write on and the markers wouldn't go through the shirt. We used Sharpies we had in the house. About $6.50 for the shirts.
Then we ate fun ice cream pops (based on candy bars). Maybe $2.50 (yes, I use coupons and sales whenever I can.)
Then the kids played Wii, their hand-helds and old-fashioned Twister. Then I had the kids brush teeth and get into pjs and get into their sleeping bags for a "midnight showing" of Ratatouille. All the guests were asleep by the end of the movie.
The next morning, I made chocolate chip muffins ($2 ish?) and they put away their stuff and played Wii and hand-helds some more until their 10:30am pickup.
Throw in another $4-5 for chocolate milk and soda.
The kids' time was structured for the most part and they loved the t-shirt (except for those who had to dress differently for where they were going next, they all wore their new t-shirts).
The fact that there were not a large number of boys, the time was structured, and my older sons helped out made it all a good experience.
The whole thing came to about $60 (using the lower figure for the pizza). One boy told me it was the best party he'd ever been to. My own son said it was much better than his last two parties. Both of those were with his class and other friends in a public park (free), with an arts and crafts activity (under $20 for everything, thanks to what's in the house and/or dollar store), cupcakes ($3 ish, made from mix), other nosh and drinks (another $10-15?), playground and outdoor toys we brought.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
No book today
Not sure if there's any point in blogging when no one reads my blog. I used to think I'd focus on the lessons I've learned in life, and that the columns would, collectively, become the basis for a book, and so it wouldn't matter if I had readers or not. Truth is, I'd like someone to read, give me feedback...but even worse, too many of my entries are not the kinds of lessons I had in mind (so where's the book?).
Today's no exception.
In other areas, my mother's still waiting for the angio. The HMO needs to approve procedures done out-of-network. I guess they haven't done it yet.
And I had an idea for my youngest son's Bar Mitzvah party--four years away! I know I'd like to have a comedian, and not a DJ-&-dancing party. A cross between a stand-up and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
I figured out the perfect party favor. While my mother thinks it's a great idea, my husband says, "No way!"
Are you ready?
To remind you, the focus is comedy; my youngest is a born comedian, his timing is impeccable. He knows how to play an audience. I keep thinking he may grow up to be a stand-up comic, a used car salesman or a defense lawyer.
Anyway, back to my brilliant idea: How about custom imprinted whoopie cushions that say, "I had a blast at [name]'s Bar Mitzvah!" Even funnier, we'd put them out--inflated--on everyone's chair!
Inappropriate, but funny as hell, no?
Today's no exception.
In other areas, my mother's still waiting for the angio. The HMO needs to approve procedures done out-of-network. I guess they haven't done it yet.
And I had an idea for my youngest son's Bar Mitzvah party--four years away! I know I'd like to have a comedian, and not a DJ-&-dancing party. A cross between a stand-up and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
I figured out the perfect party favor. While my mother thinks it's a great idea, my husband says, "No way!"
Are you ready?
To remind you, the focus is comedy; my youngest is a born comedian, his timing is impeccable. He knows how to play an audience. I keep thinking he may grow up to be a stand-up comic, a used car salesman or a defense lawyer.
Anyway, back to my brilliant idea: How about custom imprinted whoopie cushions that say, "I had a blast at [name]'s Bar Mitzvah!" Even funnier, we'd put them out--inflated--on everyone's chair!
Inappropriate, but funny as hell, no?
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Postponed
My mother's angiogram didn't take place yesterday, but will this coming Friday. Something to do with paperwork. Yes, she has an HMO, but it will cover everything, and with the best doctors, at Columbia-Presbyterian. So don't believe everything you hear about HMOs! The paperwork for the heart surgery actually went through first, but that won't be scheduled until after the angio, which will be performed by a Dr. Warren Sherman. The actual heart surgery will be performed by Dr. Mehmet Oz. Two people have asked me to get his autograph (he frequently appears on Oprah and elsewhere)!
She's on eight different medications and under orders to take it easy. And, best of all, she finally quit smoking! Yesterday was a week, and I am so glad...we all are.
So...I'm here for another week at least...and have a big proposal to finish for Australian brokers. In fact, that's what I should be working on now!
I'm also trying to figure out ways to earn extra money. I've got a small "shop" set up on Cafe Press, but none of the items are terribly in demand. I've got to become more creative. I thought about trying to sell stuff online and am even testing the idea out by selling something in the Facebook Marketplace (I've even got a buyer for one item I placed there). But it makes more sense moving forward to use ebay. First I need to figure out what stuff to sell. As I go through a room, I look to see what sits unused and unwanted. These items may as well make someone else happy!
She's on eight different medications and under orders to take it easy. And, best of all, she finally quit smoking! Yesterday was a week, and I am so glad...we all are.
So...I'm here for another week at least...and have a big proposal to finish for Australian brokers. In fact, that's what I should be working on now!
I'm also trying to figure out ways to earn extra money. I've got a small "shop" set up on Cafe Press, but none of the items are terribly in demand. I've got to become more creative. I thought about trying to sell stuff online and am even testing the idea out by selling something in the Facebook Marketplace (I've even got a buyer for one item I placed there). But it makes more sense moving forward to use ebay. First I need to figure out what stuff to sell. As I go through a room, I look to see what sits unused and unwanted. These items may as well make someone else happy!
Monday, October 6, 2008
A few days later
It's been a scary few days, but my mother is now stable, and even was released from the hospital today. And, hard as it is for her, she must take it easy.
She now faces heart surgery. Sounds like one valve must be replaced (I think the aortic, the one with calcification) and another either repaired or replaced (the mitral valve, the one which was repaired 34 years ago in Open Heart Surgery). They'll know more when they do the cardiac catherization. In addition, she has pulmonary hypertension and apparently emphysema...
Later this week, she will be admitted, and if testing and assessment go well, surgery will be scheduled for a few days after that. I'll probably be flying up Sunday. I'd like to talk her into coming down South to recuperate at our home.
On another topic, given the financial problems this county (and many other countries) are going though right now, apparently the government is thinking of distributing a new dollar bill.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Fear
The moment my father called tonight, I knew that something was wrong. My mother was in the hospital with congestive heart failure. She'd had difficulty breathing and there was fluid in her lungs.
I called my brother. He called my cousin the cardiologist, who spoke with the ER doctor.
She's apparently stable now and is being kept in the ER overnight. Some of the tests came back, and the doctors decided that tomorrow they'll move her to the Progressive Care Unit (PCU)/Telemetry Unit, which is less intensive than an ICU. Taken with the fact that she's got some color back and is not on a respirator, I must take this as a good sign.
My brother is flying up tomorrow morning. My cousin will go on Sunday and hope they let him see the chart. (Actually, he said, a patient can request to see his/her own chart...and then show it to someone else.) Once she's in the PCU, I will send flowers. I feel very badly that I am not flying up, but I just can't, for a number of reasons. I think my mother will understand and, in fact, will even protest that my brother's come up (she's already telling my father that he doesn't need to call everyone--one sister was called and came to the hospital. The one in Florida will be called tomorrow, as will her brother).
At any rate, I want my mother to feel that we are there with her, even if we cannot be. Flowers. Not sure how else. I should have the kids call and speak to her too, once she's settled in a room. Any suggestions?
And can anyone please put my mother in his/her thoughts for a refuah shlemah, a complete recovery? Thank you so much.
I called my brother. He called my cousin the cardiologist, who spoke with the ER doctor.
She's apparently stable now and is being kept in the ER overnight. Some of the tests came back, and the doctors decided that tomorrow they'll move her to the Progressive Care Unit (PCU)/Telemetry Unit, which is less intensive than an ICU. Taken with the fact that she's got some color back and is not on a respirator, I must take this as a good sign.
My brother is flying up tomorrow morning. My cousin will go on Sunday and hope they let him see the chart. (Actually, he said, a patient can request to see his/her own chart...and then show it to someone else.) Once she's in the PCU, I will send flowers. I feel very badly that I am not flying up, but I just can't, for a number of reasons. I think my mother will understand and, in fact, will even protest that my brother's come up (she's already telling my father that he doesn't need to call everyone--one sister was called and came to the hospital. The one in Florida will be called tomorrow, as will her brother).
At any rate, I want my mother to feel that we are there with her, even if we cannot be. Flowers. Not sure how else. I should have the kids call and speak to her too, once she's settled in a room. Any suggestions?
And can anyone please put my mother in his/her thoughts for a refuah shlemah, a complete recovery? Thank you so much.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
On the candidates, sort of
My shirt says it all. If you agree (or even if you don't!), please vote for my shirt in CafePress' contest. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Some very cool websites
www.diybookbinding.com/do-it-yourself-book-binding Bind your own books (hoping to try soon)
www.vrbo.com Book an inexpensive vacation (a coworker's used them and was happy)
Recipezaar (people write in with what they've changed and how it worked; you can save everything in your own online cookbook)
Freerice (enrich your vocabulary while helping to feed those who need it most)
Type in Hebrew on an English keyboard
Learn Shabbat prayers (for those who don't know at all)
www.cafepress.com make stuff to sell; print-on-demand
Do you have any other cool websites to share? Please leave a comment if you do.
Thanks!תודה רבה
www.vrbo.com Book an inexpensive vacation (a coworker's used them and was happy)
Recipezaar (people write in with what they've changed and how it worked; you can save everything in your own online cookbook)
Freerice (enrich your vocabulary while helping to feed those who need it most)
Type in Hebrew on an English keyboard
Learn Shabbat prayers (for those who don't know at all)
www.cafepress.com make stuff to sell; print-on-demand
Do you have any other cool websites to share? Please leave a comment if you do.
Thanks!תודה רבה
Monday, August 25, 2008
Lesson No. 18 - Thinking with a ראש גדול (Rosh Gadol, Hebrew for big head)
There is a great concept in Hebrew of "small head" (ראש קטן) and "big head" (ראש גדול). (I went into that to some extent in Lesson No. 4 - Better wise than a wiseguy), but I'd like to revisit today.
The idea is that when you have a Rosh Katan, you don't look at the larger picture. I've come across the concept most often in workplaces, and it kills me. It's like people who should be thinking of the impact their actions or lack of actions have on the company instead focus on the impact on themselves or their department. But sometimes departments need to cooperate and work together to accomplish something more. Sadly, many companies don't facilitate the cross-communication that is required, instead even encouraging the continuation of fiefdoms...
Another way Rosh Katan continues to fester is when upper management doesn't invite suggestions from either those "down in the trenches" or from the clients. I once worked at a magazine which had the editor, publisher and marketing manager (me) meeting weekly...but they didn't include the receptionist -- the person who spoke with every subscriber who called. She heard their complaints and their thoughts, and she represented the magazine to them. Considering that more and more weren't renewing their subscriptions at the time, I thought it great folly. By including her in the weekly meetings, she felt more useful to the organization as a whole. And when people feel their input is welcome, they are more likely to think, to suggest, to improve...and to have increased morale, which in turn, increases productivity.
But when you have people in upper management who don't put out a welcome mat or a suggestion box, they can't even know what they're missing. People in different departments, from customer service to manufacturing to graphic design, often see first-hand how something can be done better or more efficiently, what works and what doesn't work, how to save money, etc., but if their input isn't asked for, it often won't come. I've worked for managers who have listened to my suggestions and agreed with them, but were not willing to take it further up, either out of what they saw as a corporate culture of departments not working with each other, or because they didn't want to rock the boat with those further up the line.
Now, to be fair, it's not always that input from the masses isn't wanted...it's may be that it just never occurred to upper management that others may have something to contribute to the discussion. This, of course, is aggravated when egos, territoriality and bonuses are on the line. And it's a pity, because this Rosh Katan squashes those who do have Rosh Gadol, with initiative and desire to help out the organization as a whole. There's no way around it -- it must be demoralizing to come to work day after day, knowing that something could be done in a better way, and not having the opportunity to do anything about it.
The idea is that when you have a Rosh Katan, you don't look at the larger picture. I've come across the concept most often in workplaces, and it kills me. It's like people who should be thinking of the impact their actions or lack of actions have on the company instead focus on the impact on themselves or their department. But sometimes departments need to cooperate and work together to accomplish something more. Sadly, many companies don't facilitate the cross-communication that is required, instead even encouraging the continuation of fiefdoms...
Another way Rosh Katan continues to fester is when upper management doesn't invite suggestions from either those "down in the trenches" or from the clients. I once worked at a magazine which had the editor, publisher and marketing manager (me) meeting weekly...but they didn't include the receptionist -- the person who spoke with every subscriber who called. She heard their complaints and their thoughts, and she represented the magazine to them. Considering that more and more weren't renewing their subscriptions at the time, I thought it great folly. By including her in the weekly meetings, she felt more useful to the organization as a whole. And when people feel their input is welcome, they are more likely to think, to suggest, to improve...and to have increased morale, which in turn, increases productivity.
But when you have people in upper management who don't put out a welcome mat or a suggestion box, they can't even know what they're missing. People in different departments, from customer service to manufacturing to graphic design, often see first-hand how something can be done better or more efficiently, what works and what doesn't work, how to save money, etc., but if their input isn't asked for, it often won't come. I've worked for managers who have listened to my suggestions and agreed with them, but were not willing to take it further up, either out of what they saw as a corporate culture of departments not working with each other, or because they didn't want to rock the boat with those further up the line.
Now, to be fair, it's not always that input from the masses isn't wanted...it's may be that it just never occurred to upper management that others may have something to contribute to the discussion. This, of course, is aggravated when egos, territoriality and bonuses are on the line. And it's a pity, because this Rosh Katan squashes those who do have Rosh Gadol, with initiative and desire to help out the organization as a whole. There's no way around it -- it must be demoralizing to come to work day after day, knowing that something could be done in a better way, and not having the opportunity to do anything about it.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Rediscovering people from the past
I've discovered the joys of Facebook.This includes finding people from different stages of my life: High School. The day camp I went to. One of the places where I worked in Israel. Former neighbors. Relatives. Hadassah. Synagogue. I'm still looking for early childhood, college and colleagues from other workplaces. There are too many people who've registered without pictures or maiden names entered as middle names. Makes it way too difficult. And then there are those who I can see and remember, but I won't, can't befriend for a number of reasons.
I've always admired my brother's ability to network, to keep in touch with people from different stages of his life.
I now feel like I have a chance to "catch up" somehow. Make right the connections I didn't keep up. The Groups allow us to share memories and touch the past again, both with discussions and by scanning in old photos, uploading, and tagging them. Very cool.
...and the Notes option allows me to have a feed from this blog to my page. So that those who I've accepted as friends on Facebook know it's my blog. But those who read this blog who are strangers to me (well, it could happen someday, no??) cannot identify me or my family.
Facebook: Where the future faces the past. (Okay, so I'm not a copywriter!)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
It's that time of the year again...
Life is beginning to get hectic again. School has started for the kids. Soccer practices, too. 2 kids x 2 practices/week (all on different days) + one of them has flag football once a week. Another kid with four-day-a-week football practice, but at least he can stay after school for that and doesn't need to be driven. And then there's the actual soccer and football games. And one son who also referees soccer games for two different leagues (well, another son could ref at one league, but doesn't very often).Let's throw in Hebrew school, which begins next week. Twice a week for the youngest son, but the middle son will be a volunteer helper on Sundays only (same time as the youngest). Year-round we go to services on Saturday morning, although we wind up skipping here and there during soccer seasons (fall and spring). And one son sometimes volunteers at a dog rescue shelter (four-hour shifts at a time). Let's not overlook the one-time events which start off the year as well (back-to-school nights, etc.).
My husband and I share some of the driving, but I think the most difficult part is just keeping track of it all, and finding time to breathe.
I enjoy my job (40 hours/week) and I enjoy going to the gym five mornings a week (takes about an hour-and-a-half for the workout and shower). But all this adds up, timewise, too. Good thing I don't sleep much. On the other hand, I don't always use my evening hours wisely when I'm still awake. After dinner, my youngest son will read to me, then I'll check facebook yet again (I love my Blackberry when I'm stuck in traffic!), and then the killer: read the paper and/or watch television, when I should be doing things I need to do (bills to pay, papers to file, stuff for the non-profits I'm involved with, whatever...).
My idea of heaven during the school year would be to get a day off every two or three weeks, to just let me get stuff done. Sad, huh, that that's what heaven looks like to me.
When I was in college, I'd get depressed thinking about how insignificant we were in light of the never-ending enormity of the universe (I mean, it's infinite space and infinite time!). Today, it's a different story. Who even has time for even thinking about that kind of thing when there are reinsurance proposals due, newsletters to write, lunches to prepare, homework to check and dentist appintments to schedule?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Lesson No. 17 - An Aha! Moment
The more you do, the more you don't do.
(Hmmm, I don't have enough time to explain!)
(Hmmm, I don't have enough time to explain!)
Monday, August 11, 2008
How did I get here?
Some people have a life plan. They know early on what they want to do and be, where they want to live, what they want to accomplish. These people could be driven, they may have a sense of purpose, they may have a vision, or, alternatively, their path may have been dictated to them, by circumstance, by family, who knows?
Part of my working life has been the result of the process of elimination -- figuring out slowly what I didn't want to do, as opposed to what I wanted to do. Had I given more weight to what I enjoy (art, design, problem-solving), I might have pursued a career in architecture. But it never even crossed my mind back then.
Part of my life has been reacting to things which came along and moved me. In tenth grade, we read Exodus, in college. I took some Judaic Studies classes, after graduation I went for a summer and I knew I wanted to live in Israel someday. I later met my ex-husband in a night club there (okay, not the smartest move) during a trip for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah, returned for a year-long volunteer program called Sherut La'Am (Service to the People), during which we were married. Eight months later we came to the US to work and save money, before moving back.
Nearly a dozen years later we were divorced, and I moved back to the US, this time to Georgia. Why Georgia? I'd met my current husband online and he lived here. It turns out that he had moved back only a year earlier. He had actually lived in Israel for over 20 years, but moved back to the States, thinking it would only be for a year or two, to be closer to family. Instead, the children and I relocated and we have been here for about five years, with no plans on returning.
Now that I've created a Facebook page, I've connected up with old camp and school friends; this prompted me to take out the old high school yearbook. Inserted inside was a directory from the ten year reunion. Although I wasn't able to attend, I'd ordered it, curious to see where people were. I remember when I first read it, being surprised at how many people married others from High School, and how many had remained in the area. I, of course, was far across the ocean. And now, I think of where I currently am in my life and it's simply somewhere else entirely...
Life certainly takes us along paths we could never have predicted for ourselves.
Part of my working life has been the result of the process of elimination -- figuring out slowly what I didn't want to do, as opposed to what I wanted to do. Had I given more weight to what I enjoy (art, design, problem-solving), I might have pursued a career in architecture. But it never even crossed my mind back then.
Part of my life has been reacting to things which came along and moved me. In tenth grade, we read Exodus, in college. I took some Judaic Studies classes, after graduation I went for a summer and I knew I wanted to live in Israel someday. I later met my ex-husband in a night club there (okay, not the smartest move) during a trip for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah, returned for a year-long volunteer program called Sherut La'Am (Service to the People), during which we were married. Eight months later we came to the US to work and save money, before moving back.
Nearly a dozen years later we were divorced, and I moved back to the US, this time to Georgia. Why Georgia? I'd met my current husband online and he lived here. It turns out that he had moved back only a year earlier. He had actually lived in Israel for over 20 years, but moved back to the States, thinking it would only be for a year or two, to be closer to family. Instead, the children and I relocated and we have been here for about five years, with no plans on returning.
Now that I've created a Facebook page, I've connected up with old camp and school friends; this prompted me to take out the old high school yearbook. Inserted inside was a directory from the ten year reunion. Although I wasn't able to attend, I'd ordered it, curious to see where people were. I remember when I first read it, being surprised at how many people married others from High School, and how many had remained in the area. I, of course, was far across the ocean. And now, I think of where I currently am in my life and it's simply somewhere else entirely...
Life certainly takes us along paths we could never have predicted for ourselves.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Lesson No. 16 - Everything is better covered in chocolate
Okay, that's not so much a lesson as a self-evident truth.
Once I made chocolate covered pretzel rods for my son's Bar Mitzvah, I discovered how easy it could be (although they were a bit tricky, in that we couldn't leave either end uncovered. to look like magic wands, I needed to put white chocolate on the ends too).
Anyway, a few weeks ago I prepared pretzel twists, which was easy enough. Two nights ago, I made parting gifts for the kids' camp counselors (with ten of them, I wasn't about to give tips, sorry!). So, I covered rods again (all but an inch at one end), and then added sprinkles. Last night I bagged them and the kids filled out homemade tags which I tied on with ribbons.
All you do is melt the chocolate in the microwave, cover what you want and leave on wax paper to harden in the fridge. Some recipes I saw for chocolate covered spoons (something I had thought about doing for the grownups at the Bar Mitzvah, for mixing into their coffee) also used shortening.
So a few minutes ago, I googled for "chocolate covered" to see what else I could make, and found something I cannot and will not: chocolate covered bacon-stuffed cake!
I also found many recipes using different kinds of fruit (cherries, berries, bananas on sticks, raisins, etc.), and, even better, popcorn, nuts, and even potato chips. Chocolate covered anything is an easy and inexpensive way to make gifts for friends, family, and coworkers...
Once I made chocolate covered pretzel rods for my son's Bar Mitzvah, I discovered how easy it could be (although they were a bit tricky, in that we couldn't leave either end uncovered. to look like magic wands, I needed to put white chocolate on the ends too).Anyway, a few weeks ago I prepared pretzel twists, which was easy enough. Two nights ago, I made parting gifts for the kids' camp counselors (with ten of them, I wasn't about to give tips, sorry!). So, I covered rods again (all but an inch at one end), and then added sprinkles. Last night I bagged them and the kids filled out homemade tags which I tied on with ribbons.
All you do is melt the chocolate in the microwave, cover what you want and leave on wax paper to harden in the fridge. Some recipes I saw for chocolate covered spoons (something I had thought about doing for the grownups at the Bar Mitzvah, for mixing into their coffee) also used shortening.
So a few minutes ago, I googled for "chocolate covered" to see what else I could make, and found something I cannot and will not: chocolate covered bacon-stuffed cake!
I also found many recipes using different kinds of fruit (cherries, berries, bananas on sticks, raisins, etc.), and, even better, popcorn, nuts, and even potato chips. Chocolate covered anything is an easy and inexpensive way to make gifts for friends, family, and coworkers...
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Back to school
I'm still not used to the Georgia school calendar -- the kids go back to school this coming Monday. This week my high schooler had "Fall Madness" where he got his schedule (not completely what he wanted) and had his picture taken and brought in my checks for PTSA, class dues (why is there such a thing??) and English workbook fees (ditto). My middle school son is skipping his, since the only purpose is paying out checks and I can pay for PTSA later. He doesn't even get his schedule until the first day of school! Tomorrow, my elementary school son has his "Sneak-a-Peek." That's where we find out who his teacher is, meet her, and bring in items from the interminably long list of school supplies.
American society should support free education for all. But when parents have to pay class fees, and supply the school with reams of paper and dry erase markers and boxes of tissues and ziploc bags, that's not happening. (Would you believe I even have to give one school a self-addressed two-stamped envelope at the end of the year if I want to receive my son's final report card!) We're also asked to purchase reading books for the kids (okay, we use the library for summer reading, although not for school-year reading. I don't know about you, but I remember teachers in Junior High handing out class sets of reading books to be returned). Free education is especially not happening where school team sports are concerned. Parents are supposed to join a booster club which asks for over $800 (preferably $1200!). On top of this, kids are supposed to fundraise ad nauseum. Pay-to-play in public school? That's not the way it's supposed to be. For art, too, I had to buy my son a large amount of school supplies. I remember receiving the first set of paints (oils in Junior High School and acrylics in High School), although we did buy our own canvases.
In Israel, they called it free education (there was even a "Free Education Law"), a lie. The school fees we paid were for everything from photocopying to insurance to trips to unspecified. Plus we paid monthly tuition for a government school! Further, schools supplied no books. We would receive not only a long list of supplies, but of text and workbooks that we had to purchase. And despite laws which claimed a book had to be good for five years, they would change so frequently that you couldn't pass them down to younger siblings. I was certain that book publishers and the Ministry of Education were in cahoots. I return to America and feel like it's almost no different.
I know American religiously observant parents cite free religious education as a reason to move to Israel (private Jewish days school education in America is incredibly expensive), so even with the fees cited above, it's not that bad. But funny thing -- just last week I read that they're trying to pass a bill now in Israel which would eliminate school fees. Secular families are complaining, thinking it's another way for super religious families (which have many children and often non-working fathers) to get something for free. But I think it's the way it should be.
In my opinion, all of society should take on and share the common obligation of eduating its young. Period. And for that to happen, all taxpayers -- and not parents alone -- need to supply what schools need.
American society should support free education for all. But when parents have to pay class fees, and supply the school with reams of paper and dry erase markers and boxes of tissues and ziploc bags, that's not happening. (Would you believe I even have to give one school a self-addressed two-stamped envelope at the end of the year if I want to receive my son's final report card!) We're also asked to purchase reading books for the kids (okay, we use the library for summer reading, although not for school-year reading. I don't know about you, but I remember teachers in Junior High handing out class sets of reading books to be returned). Free education is especially not happening where school team sports are concerned. Parents are supposed to join a booster club which asks for over $800 (preferably $1200!). On top of this, kids are supposed to fundraise ad nauseum. Pay-to-play in public school? That's not the way it's supposed to be. For art, too, I had to buy my son a large amount of school supplies. I remember receiving the first set of paints (oils in Junior High School and acrylics in High School), although we did buy our own canvases.
In Israel, they called it free education (there was even a "Free Education Law"), a lie. The school fees we paid were for everything from photocopying to insurance to trips to unspecified. Plus we paid monthly tuition for a government school! Further, schools supplied no books. We would receive not only a long list of supplies, but of text and workbooks that we had to purchase. And despite laws which claimed a book had to be good for five years, they would change so frequently that you couldn't pass them down to younger siblings. I was certain that book publishers and the Ministry of Education were in cahoots. I return to America and feel like it's almost no different.
I know American religiously observant parents cite free religious education as a reason to move to Israel (private Jewish days school education in America is incredibly expensive), so even with the fees cited above, it's not that bad. But funny thing -- just last week I read that they're trying to pass a bill now in Israel which would eliminate school fees. Secular families are complaining, thinking it's another way for super religious families (which have many children and often non-working fathers) to get something for free. But I think it's the way it should be.
In my opinion, all of society should take on and share the common obligation of eduating its young. Period. And for that to happen, all taxpayers -- and not parents alone -- need to supply what schools need.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Lesson No. 15 - The Importance of Definitions
When I first started this sporadic blog, I wrote about communicating (see Lesson No. 5 - Huh?, Lesson No. 5 - Continued, Lesson No. 6 - Catching Flies, and Lesson No. 9 -Thinking Before Speaking).
Most of these dealt with not choosing one's words wisely (often during an emotional moment).
But another important angle to clear communications is sharing the same definitions. I've seen this become an issue at my job. I work with brokers putting together proposals for reinsurance. It's a back-and-forth process, requiring a bit of project management skills and a proposed timeline. One of the recent proposals we worked on had the brokers adhering to the timeline - in their eyes, but not in mine. The difficulty came in that I should've clearly defined what a draft is. A draft has most of its parts in place, but faces rewriting ahead. It is not something with many pieces still missing. We learned from this, and will be more specific in the future.
The point about definitions was also driven home once at the hairdresser's. I went in for a cut and asked for two inches to be taken off. The very smart woman asked me to show her two inches "since everyone's is different." Smart, because she wanted to establish a lexicon before working from her definition.
I think I'm dwelling on this now because I've just joined the world of Facebook (what fun!). How do we define a Friend? Someone we were friends with many years ago? I'll accept that. Someone we know/knew in passing? There, I'm not so sure. The "Friendfinder" offers you links to "People You May Know." Yes, I may know them, but is it okay for me to ask to be their friend?
I asked for those I felt confident asking about. But for others, I think I'll wait and see if anyone asks to be my friend.
Most of these dealt with not choosing one's words wisely (often during an emotional moment).
But another important angle to clear communications is sharing the same definitions. I've seen this become an issue at my job. I work with brokers putting together proposals for reinsurance. It's a back-and-forth process, requiring a bit of project management skills and a proposed timeline. One of the recent proposals we worked on had the brokers adhering to the timeline - in their eyes, but not in mine. The difficulty came in that I should've clearly defined what a draft is. A draft has most of its parts in place, but faces rewriting ahead. It is not something with many pieces still missing. We learned from this, and will be more specific in the future.
The point about definitions was also driven home once at the hairdresser's. I went in for a cut and asked for two inches to be taken off. The very smart woman asked me to show her two inches "since everyone's is different." Smart, because she wanted to establish a lexicon before working from her definition.
I think I'm dwelling on this now because I've just joined the world of Facebook (what fun!). How do we define a Friend? Someone we were friends with many years ago? I'll accept that. Someone we know/knew in passing? There, I'm not so sure. The "Friendfinder" offers you links to "People You May Know." Yes, I may know them, but is it okay for me to ask to be their friend?
I asked for those I felt confident asking about. But for others, I think I'll wait and see if anyone asks to be my friend.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Lesson No. 14 - Understanding...Football
I don't know if it's the South or the times, but I don't remember football being so important when I grew up. anyway, last night I attended a "Mom's football clinic" held by my oldest son's football coach. My son will be playing JV.
We met in a restaurant and after our meal, the coach got up to talk. He spoke about values and about football, taught us terminology and his philosophy about plays (lots of repetition, learn a few but learn them well) and a bunch of other things. I now know what a triple option and a veer play are, and the numbers and letters used to describe the positions of the players on the field and the gaps between them. (I found a site, which seems to explain well, too. Use the dropdown lists at the top.)
The coach had a few gems, from which we can draw other life lessons. Unfortunately, only one really comes to mind now (I wish I had taken notes!): If your defense is strong and you keep the other team from scoring, you will not lose. Very smart, I thought...
We met in a restaurant and after our meal, the coach got up to talk. He spoke about values and about football, taught us terminology and his philosophy about plays (lots of repetition, learn a few but learn them well) and a bunch of other things. I now know what a triple option and a veer play are, and the numbers and letters used to describe the positions of the players on the field and the gaps between them. (I found a site, which seems to explain well, too. Use the dropdown lists at the top.)
The coach had a few gems, from which we can draw other life lessons. Unfortunately, only one really comes to mind now (I wish I had taken notes!): If your defense is strong and you keep the other team from scoring, you will not lose. Very smart, I thought...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Watching what one eats and listening to advice
Well, while I'm exercising heavily, I'm falling down in the first area mentioned above. You can see from the link to the left, that I'm not entering info most days...
As for the second, you must listen to this, weekly. It's a great radio show, called the Weekend Workout, broadcast in Florida, NY/NJ and LA, but available on demand online...
Great mix of interviews & advice...
I'd write more, but I'm about to host a Hadassah programming meeting at my house right...now!
As for the second, you must listen to this, weekly. It's a great radio show, called the Weekend Workout, broadcast in Florida, NY/NJ and LA, but available on demand online...
Great mix of interviews & advice...
I'd write more, but I'm about to host a Hadassah programming meeting at my house right...now!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Farklempt
I took an interesting survey yesterday, conducting by professors researching the use of Yiddish and Hebrew words in English (social scientists at Hebrew Union College). It's meant for both Jews and non-Jews; Jews are also asked about their upbringing. It's interesting, as I said, and if you complete it, you can sign up to have the results emailed to you.
The day before, I'd heard a non-Jewish radio broadcaster here in the South use a very Yiddish word, farklempt. For some reason, I always thought that meant disheveled, but it means choked up. While Googling to make sure I spelled it correctly, I found an online multi-player game called Farklempt, which has to do with managing emotions in an artistic way...don'tknow if I have the time to play, but someone else might...
Anyway, while certain Yiddishisms entered the English language long ago (thanks mostly to Hollywood, I should think), this was not one that I ever expected to hear, especially in Georgia!
The day before, I'd heard a non-Jewish radio broadcaster here in the South use a very Yiddish word, farklempt. For some reason, I always thought that meant disheveled, but it means choked up. While Googling to make sure I spelled it correctly, I found an online multi-player game called Farklempt, which has to do with managing emotions in an artistic way...don'tknow if I have the time to play, but someone else might...
Anyway, while certain Yiddishisms entered the English language long ago (thanks mostly to Hollywood, I should think), this was not one that I ever expected to hear, especially in Georgia!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Getting back on track
Yes, I've kept up with the exercise, but after two weeks of not watching what I'm eating, I haven't lost any more weight.
If I keep a food journal, I behave well.
If I don't..., well, I don't.
So, in an effort to get back on track, I've created a new account at www.fitday.com and am making it public, for all the world to see (okay, maybe I have 1 or 2 people reading this?)
My goal: to lose 40 pounds and two sizes by the end of the calendar year. I participate in a boot camp three times a week, and exercise two other days a week (usually elliptical for 30-40 minutes, although today I did for an hour!), and am trying to limit my caloric intake to around 1200 calories a day.
Anyway, the link (at left) will show my intake, activities, and a journal, which will only have notes about the exercise equivalents (their list of pre-sets isn't exhaustive, so I have to fake/explain)...
Wish me luck, please!
If I keep a food journal, I behave well.
If I don't..., well, I don't.
So, in an effort to get back on track, I've created a new account at www.fitday.com and am making it public, for all the world to see (okay, maybe I have 1 or 2 people reading this?)
My goal: to lose 40 pounds and two sizes by the end of the calendar year. I participate in a boot camp three times a week, and exercise two other days a week (usually elliptical for 30-40 minutes, although today I did for an hour!), and am trying to limit my caloric intake to around 1200 calories a day.
Anyway, the link (at left) will show my intake, activities, and a journal, which will only have notes about the exercise equivalents (their list of pre-sets isn't exhaustive, so I have to fake/explain)...
Wish me luck, please!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Managing caloric intake, a.k.a. dieting
It's not easy, it really isn't.
I started off strong--1200 calories a day--but am not keeping it up very well (more like 1300-1500 these last few days). My oldest son now working at Dunkin' Donuts certainly doesn't help! (See last entry on how exercising anything but self-discipline indicates lack of serious motivation...)
Anyway...
I use http://www.fitday.com/ to keep track of what I'm eating and what exercise I'm doing. I find that if I don't record every calorie, I'm more apt to stuff more in my mouth... This site can also create reports based on the info you enter. Their activity database doesn't allow you to add things to it, like the food one does, but other than that, it's good...
If the site doesn't have the nutritional information, I google, and more often than not, I'm directed to a number of sites: http://www.calorie-count.com/, http://www.calorieking.com/foods or http://www.thedailyplate.com/.
I've also found that most restaurants include nutritional information on their website. It also helps to know what you want to eat before you enter a restaurant -- so I always look up the menu and nutritional info before I go. Chick-Fil-A's menu info on their website is especially nice -- they have a very nifty meal calculator that other sites should replicate (my salad there truly wasn't bad).
The only place so far I've found that posts absolutely NO information is California Pizza Kitchen. They should be ashamed of themselves. There are a few sites which apparently either analyzed or guessed really well -- but not on the menu item I chose. :-(
I started off strong--1200 calories a day--but am not keeping it up very well (more like 1300-1500 these last few days). My oldest son now working at Dunkin' Donuts certainly doesn't help! (See last entry on how exercising anything but self-discipline indicates lack of serious motivation...)
Anyway...
I use http://www.fitday.com/ to keep track of what I'm eating and what exercise I'm doing. I find that if I don't record every calorie, I'm more apt to stuff more in my mouth... This site can also create reports based on the info you enter. Their activity database doesn't allow you to add things to it, like the food one does, but other than that, it's good...
If the site doesn't have the nutritional information, I google, and more often than not, I'm directed to a number of sites: http://www.calorie-count.com/, http://www.calorieking.com/foods or http://www.thedailyplate.com/.
I've also found that most restaurants include nutritional information on their website. It also helps to know what you want to eat before you enter a restaurant -- so I always look up the menu and nutritional info before I go. Chick-Fil-A's menu info on their website is especially nice -- they have a very nifty meal calculator that other sites should replicate (my salad there truly wasn't bad).
The only place so far I've found that posts absolutely NO information is California Pizza Kitchen. They should be ashamed of themselves. There are a few sites which apparently either analyzed or guessed really well -- but not on the menu item I chose. :-(
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