Money where their beliefs are

I don't eat foie gras or goose. I don't eat these things because I don't like the taste. As a matter of fact, I don't eat liver of any kind and if I can avoid eating the dark meat parts of chicken, I do so (goose and duck are all dark meat for those who don't know).

I don't avoid these delicacies out of politics, which is why I won't join PETA or Cry Fowl* or Birds of a Feather*. I'm not boycotting the goose. I don't like the goose.

So what does that have to do with anything?

Every couple of months or so, another report appears in the Israeli news about some musician canceling or possibly canceling their concerts here in Israel because of the 'apartheid'.

One of the latest ones (it's so hard to keep up) was Macy Gray taking it to her Facebook fans. In the end, she decided to come. But there have been others who gave in to pressure. Or buy into the whole boycott, divest, sanction movement (BDSM... unfortunate initials?).

The musicians who join these boycotts seem to actually stand to lose some money. After all, they miss out on concert opportunities.

But then there are the actors... The most recent uproar was when the Ariel Cultural Center opened and first you had Israeli actors refusing to perform at the center and then a bunch of Hollywood types voiced their solidarity.

I mean really. Why bother? As far as I know, none of these actors or playwrights were being asked to perform here (and I can easily find out if the center was planning on extending an invitation to Mandy or Jennifer since I live around the corner from the center). So what did it cost them? They're not losing any money.

Make it newsworthy guys. Come back when these actors and musicians who refuse to even come to Israel stipulate in their contracts that even their CDs, DVDs and other merchandising shouldn't be sold or rented in Israel or played in the movie theaters. Then I can see the point of signing in solidarity.

Until then? Pass the foie gras.

* Not real save the goose movements.

Corn Chowder

I've had this recipe sitting in my in box for TWO YEARS!!! before I tried it and it's so super easy and so yummy, I'm kicking myself for not trying this sooner.

Corn Chowder
1 potato, peeled & diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp unbleached flour
2 c. fresh or frozen corn
3 c. lowfat milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1) in a large pot over medium heat, saute the potato, onion and green pepper in the butter until the onion is soft, about 6-8 mins.

2) add the flour and mix well. then add the corn, milk, salt, and black pepper, stirring thoroughly.

3. turn the heat to low and simmer for about 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are tender and thechowder has thickened (do not let it boil). spoon the chowder into the blender and puree into a thick mixture. (do this in batches, according to how much hot liquid is recommended for your blender. But I use a stick blender anyway).

I substitute 1 cup of heavy cream for 1 cup of milk and do a mix of butter and oil for the sautee.

Islamodisney?

"but mooooooooooooom, what do they mean, i have to be 42 inches tall to shoot the kaytushas?!?!"

Artists 4 Israel

Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, we were visited by Artists4Israel who were kind enough to show their solidarity with Israel and purposefully came out to Ariel to protest against the actors and artists who are boycotting our cultural center since we're in the West Bank.

These are some photos I took. I'll most likely have a few more photos to post on Friday so you'll be able to see the finished murals they did.

Needed that like a hole in the head...

Oh wait...

I was scheduled for surgery for Dec. 22nd and was actually in the process of getting the various paperwork approved from the HMO. Wednesday afternoon the ENT calls me and asks me how I'm doing. I told him it felt like my head was going to explode... and this was after 2 fulls days on antibiotics.

He told me that a surgical slot was available for Thursday afternoon and it was mine if I wanted it. I said yes. I may have even said HELL YES.

Then of course there was a flurry of getting things in order - Zach had to arrange to work from home to take care of the boys, I had to email my boss to reassign transcription work that was on a short deadline (yay for that!), after a brief hesitation, I accepted Rechelle's offer to arrange Shabbat meals for us (I was expecting to be home Friday, since I was sent home the day after the previous 2 surgeries but knew I wouldn't be up to making Shabbat) and then packed a small overnight bag.

I had to go to the health clinic the next morning to try the paperwork fast-tracked for approval and by 8:30 I was on the bus. Got to the hospital at 10:30, called the clinic for them to fax over the approval and by noon, I was in my room.

I had the CT done 2 weeks previously and blood work, so I had the CD and printouts ready to hand in.

And then hurry up and wait.

At some point I spoke with the doctors. They expected to do the standard endoscopic sinus surgery but my doctor did say there was a possibility that they'd have to drill into my skull, above my left eye to get to the frontal sinus cavity. He said the CT showed a film over the cavity, but they felt they could clear it the conventional way (via the nasal passage).

I was given a valium at 5:30 p.m., wheeled into the OR around 6 p.m. and after sliding onto the table, having the oxygen mask put over my face and the IV inserted, the next thing I know I'm asking whomever it was that was standing next to me reading my chart in recovery, what time it was.

She said it was 12:30. I touched my forehead and sure enough, there was tape on my left eyebrow... and the left side of my forehead was totally numb. I was back in my room at 1 a.m.

At 8 a.m., my doctor came in and said after trying to get things cleared out from the nose, they had to drill into my head. They found a fiberous mass in the cavity (due to scarring from repeated infections and probably from mucus having no place to drain) which they removed and he placed a sent into the sinus cavity to keep it draining properly. I'll have that for about 2 months. Apparently he had told me this after the surgery, but I don't remember that at all.

He wanted me on IV antibiotics, so that meant... staying over the weekend. Which meant more scrambling to get a babysitter for the boys on Sunday (thanks to Suri's school going to an anti-freeze demonstration, she was able to take care of the boys) and I had to buy toiletries and books and whatnot to last me through Sunday.

Staying over the weekend also meant a skeleton crew so I didn't see my doctor again... but on Saturday afternoon when the doctors were doing their rounds (and talking over me), I found out the surgery went until 11 p.m. and it involved a bit of 'MacGyvering' with regard to the stent and such. There was also a bit more bleeding going on than expected (although I did NOT need a transfusion or anything, thank God).
This morning the doctors tried to convince me to stay for another 24 hours for IV antibiotics, but I needed to get home for many reasons...

My head hurts, but what do you expect and it's not nearly as bad as when I was having sinus pressure headaches, my nose won't stop running and I can't blow it yes, I have little sense of taste or smell and my forehead is still numb... oh yeah, and the hole in my head.

But I'm home with my family and hopefully this will be the end to the sinus issues of the past 18 months.

Now on to planning a wedding.

The newest JPIX is up!

Head over to Around The Island and take a look!

And don't forget to contribute to the next one!

A pressing engagement

One of the things I really love about living in Israel is when there's a simcha, folks tend to pull together and contribute baked goods, salads, quiches and other foods. It makes the whole thing so much more heimish.

The date for the engagement party has been set, the place rented and now it's time to get food organized.

Hey, this is me. Of course it's gonna be about food.

I briefly spoke to AS (my ex-husband), and I'll speak to ABE (Chattan's mom). AS and I think we should make it with real food, as opposed to just desserts and nosh.

I already planned on making buckeyes, I also planned on making truffle fudge brownies and chocolate popcorn.

I'll add fettucini alfredo and a pasta marinara.

AS said he may ask friends to make quiches.

Someone will make either salads or veggie platters.

Any other suggestions and/or recommendations?

Winter Sky

The Pesky family is expecting!

b'Ezrat Hashem the Pesky family will be welcoming a new son-in-law into our ranks at the beginning of the summer.

The young man is from Shilo.

Only in Israel moment...

In shul today 2 on-duty soldiers came in for their Aliyah. One guy had the huge radio pack on his back with the antenna rising about a foot over his head. Rather than taking it off and then having to put it back on, they simply draped the Tallit over him, radio and all. So all we could see in a sea of white Tallitot was an orange beret and a black radio antenna....

Our Sukkah

Inspired by the ideas in A Mother In Israel's post about decorating the walls of the Sukkah I decided on a plan for at least one of the plain white walls of our own cloth Sukkah. After staring at them for 4 or 5 years and mulling over one idea after another (one idea was to paint the 7 species of Israel onto part of a panel, another idea was an Ushpizen-inspired mural) I hit upon a plan with the help of the ideas in the post.

So right now, one panel sports the yellow hand prints (and smudges that goes along with having a 3 year old) of the Pesky household in a vague sun-like shape.

Each year we'll be adding to the mural and b'Ezrat Hashem (God's Will) we'll add more hand prints as the Pesky family expands to sons- and daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

One of the saddest posts I've seen

The following has got to be one of the saddest posts I've seen in a long time on Imamother.

Titled "Attention Litivish or Chassidish Mothers and FS" (FS being a poster)

My 12 year old Charedi daughter came in to me this evening and asked me if husbands and wives are allowed to hug and kiss. Turns out she was standing on our porch and speaking with her friend who lives 2 floors down. The apartment directly under us has a newly married couple living in it. Their blinds were completely open and dd watched for a few minutes while the couple made out on the couch. Obviously I'll never know just how much she saw but she was in total shock that this couple were "behaving like chilonim" and she was nauseous over the whole thing. Needless to say, my dd is very sheltered and could not imagine that anyone Charedi would do something so disgusting!

I am curious about how Charedi (Litvish or Chassidish) mothers would deal with this.
FS -What do you think?

I probably made the biggest mistake of my life and told her that husbands and wives can do that but that it's not tznius to have the windows open. She was not happy with that answer and of course, started to ask me about her father and myself I didn't give her a straight answer but I did let her know that it's normal and natural.
When DH found this out he was not a happy camper. He would rather have her think that the neighbors are pervs or something. Oy.

I'm not sure which is sadder... that the girl, at 12, still thinks intimacy in marriage is something only non-religious people do, that she has never seen her own parents even hug, that the mother thinks TELLING THE TRUTH might have been a mistake or that the father would rather his daughter think intimacy is perverted....

Nursery Dilemma

2 issues.

First issue: Do I be honest and tell the teachers that NS really isn't toilet trained and risk them telling me they won't accept him?

Second issue: Looking at the calendar, I can either send him starting Sept. 12th, right after Rosh Hashana. He'd then have 5 days of school, be off Friday, Sept. 17th since Yom Kippur starts and then he'll go to school Sept. 19th - 21st. and then he's off until October 3rd because of Sukkot.

So that means my non-toilet trained son will have a grand total of 8 days in nursery.

Or do I keep him home until after all the holidays and hope that in that time either he'll become completely toilet trained or at least a lot better at it....

Training woes

My 3 year old is still fighting the toilet training.

He'll sit to pee with little problems but pooping is a whole 'nother story.

He should be toilet trained before he starts school and today I'm registering him for nursery. I'll keep him home tomorrow and Tuesday (since they'll start vacation on Wednesday) so I'll have an extra week to get him to sit on the toilet but honestly, I'm not hopeful.

I'll talk to the teachers for their advice but I'm not sure what to do.

Send him in a diaper where he'll spend a chunk of the day in a dirty, smelly diaper? Send him in underwear he refuses to wear and send 6 changes of clothes?

What do I do????

Been a while

Been busy.

I did the smart thing and started cooking and freezing for Rosh Hashana last week.

August 15th I went to the Misrad haChinuch (Board of Ed) to finally sign my 3 year old up for nursery. I was told that all the dati (religious) gannim (preschools) were full and why did I wait so long to register him. I was told I should either put him in the secular gan (which is right across the street from us) or wait until after the holidays and usually spots open up.

First of all, it's not really your business. Pretend I just moved here.

Second of all... it is my legal right to send my kid to public gan and the Mishrad haChinuch is obligated to accommodate me.

Third... I don't want to send my child to the secular gan, even though it's so much more convenient to me than the religious ones. While I have no problem with my son having secular friends, I think the Kashrut issue would be too much of a problem in the Gan. YOU try telling a 3 year old not to eat someone else's sandwich or pre-cut apple.

Thursday night (school started Wednesday), hubby and I were eating at one of the local restaurants and one of the nursery teachers who also Davens at the same shul asked what we were doing with our 3 year old. I told her I'd been told there was no room and she said that was baloney. At least 3 spots were open in the nursery I wanted to send the 3 year old to and another 3 spots opened in the other nursery.

So today, once the 1 1/2 year old wakes from his nap, we'll go to the Misrad haChinuch and get him into nursery.

When I was first told about the no room in Gan problem, I contacted two people responsible for getting people to move to Ariel.... the problem isn't just about finding one spot for my son, but for spots for future residents. The sooner they get the problem fixed, the better off everyone is.

Not quite there

My second child's birthday is 29 Av or August 27th, depending on which calendar you go by.

This year she turned... err... turns... 18.

Which means she can finally open her own bank account.

Well, not according to the Post Office.

Today's dates are 10 Elul or August 20th. So according to the Hebrew calendar, she's been 18 for more than a few days but according to the secular calendar, she's a week short.

But we live in Israel. Where the Hebrew (and Arabic) dates are legally recognized.

Except, apparently if you want to open a bank account with Bank haDo'ar (the bank run by the Israeli Post Office). According to the teller we tried to deal with, in order to have an account with them, you need to be 18 according to the secular calendar.

They'll accept checks and other legal documents dated with the Hebrew (or Arabic) date. But not allow you to open an account.

Yarmulke Goal!! Itay Schechter goal celebration - Hapoel Tel Aviv v Salz...

Help someone return a camera!

Please help spread the word and repost this:

Please, help someone find the Friedman family from New York with a son named Shloimy (9-10 years old). They visited the Arch Stone Bridge in the Catskills on July 25th and lost their Sony camera there. I'm determined to find them and return the camera. Please, pass this along.

My email address is elinaz@aol.com.

Thank you.

Army/Sherut Leumi Guide for Parents

Please pass this along.

The Givat Sharett Chesed Committee of Beit Shemesh is distributing for FREE its “Serving Our Nation” Army Preparation Guide for those young men and women preparing for the army and FOR THEIR PARENTS!

The Guide, in Hebrew and English, provides detailed information and tips regarding the process itself and items to acquire in advance of serving. It is a MUST READ particularly for PARENTS of future army participants.

The Guide is the second in the “Serving Our Nation” series of preparation guides. The first guide, the “Sherut Leumi Preparation Guide”, is also available for FREE in English and Hebrew. The guide contains a wealth of information for the young men and women preparing for sherut leumi service. .

Please contact Susan Barth 054-7294-964 or write servingournation@gmail.com
to request either or both Serving Our Nation preparation guides.

Latest JPIX

JPIX is now up over at Leora's blog!

Kol haKavod!