Israel Again

Hopefully the spring of 2015 will bring my third journey to Israel. A group of friends, Jews and Christians, are planning a "Biblical Heritage" tour in the spring and the itinerary is different enough from what I've seen in the past that I am getting excited. The price is right too; how can we say no?

Places I'm especially looking forward to (just a small sample):

Tel Dan, a city mentioned in the Bible, described as the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel, belonging to the Tribe of Dan

Mt. Bental, a lookout point where we can see the "Road to Damascus"

Mt. Carmel, the "Place of Sacrifice" where the Prophet Elijah had an encounter with the Priests of Baal
  
Elijah's Cave in the city of Haifa and Nazareth in the hill country of the Galilee where Jesus grew to manhood

Nazareth Village, a reconstructed village that brings to life a farm and Galilean village as it was 2,000 years ago

Megiddo, where by Christian belief, the Messiah will return to earth and defeat the Antichrist (the "beast") in the battle of Armageddon

Capernaum, which in Jesus' time was a flourishing border town and was called "his own city"

Mt. Scopus overlooking ancient and modern Jerusalem

How did we miss these on our last visit (which I thought was extremely comprehensive)?

Life is short and these are the years to realize dreams that may have been suppressed by work and earning a living. Retirement can truly be the best time of your life but we all know that can change in an instant...

Shalom again Yisrael!

;-)

Hallelujah

I tossed and turned last night reflecting on the rewrite of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and it's transformation into a Christian hymn. Is it now a "holy" or a "broken" Hallelujah as this article asks?

I wrestled with my thoughts. On one hand, Leonard Cohen (now 80) himself has not appeared to object. I guess the song, after thirty years, is in the public domain. The Christian version is indeed moving and the song is not an overtly "Jewish" one. So why does this bother me? Apparently I am not the only one to feel a little what? depressed? betrayed? ripped off?

Here's what I came up with. The song is deeply spiritual, if not outright religious in nature. It evokes images of Jewish longing and anguish, of King David, Samson, and Bathsheba. It encapsulates a Jewish feeling of mourning and melancholy that Leonard Cohen captured perfectly. To alter it, even for a beautiful purpose, seems wrong or at least slightly stinky.

Of course I had to smile a bit when I read this: “When we rewrote the lyrics, I had no idea Leonard Cohen was Jewish." Duh. With a name like that what did he think?

I am a fan of Leonard Cohen's and proud to say he is a Landsman. But Hallelujah, believe it or not, is not my favorite.  Don't mess with Dance Me To The End of Love (see my blog 8/14/2013)!

Hallelujah!

;-)

The Rugs

New Rug

I always admired hubby's grandmother's oriental rug and wished it were mine. I was absolutely over-the-moon thrilled when hubby's mom said I could have it! I had it shipped to Florida and over the years I have taken excellent care of it by having it professionally cleaned and maintained by oriental rug experts.  It is the centerpiece of my home and I knew our new house was the one for us when I saw how well the silk draperies in the living room would compliment grandma's rug.

Grandma M's rug

Truth Be Told, the adjacent dining room would benefit from a nice rug too but I never wanted to buy one because I knew any rug would look cheap compared to grandma's.  But a few days ago I spotted a companion rug in an antique mall that blew me away. Although not a match, it is obviously of the same genre and pedigree. We bought it on the spot and now it resides with the local oriental rug specialist (Amazing! There actually is one in our area!) awaiting a thorough cleaning and a new custom pad. This will take five weeks but I'm hoping it will be ready before I host the neighborhood Maj Jong ladies in February.

Both rugs are Sarouks, circa 1920, the era when no self respecting home would be without an oriental rug.  I have heard appraisals for similar rugs ranging from $3,000. to $20,000. but their monetary worth is none of my concern. I love them and I'm sure that barring a horrible financial reversal (poo poo poo) I will own and enjoy them for the rest of my life.

Thanks Grandma M and Mama G for the heirloom!  Can't wait for it's partner to arrive home...

;-)

Torah Roundtable

I went to a "Torah Study Roundtable" last week, hosted by the rabbi of the congregation in nearby Leesburg Florida. It was well attended and the discussion was mostly about the origin of various Christmas symbols: wreaths, trees, lights, Santa, candy canes, stockings, gifts etc.  The rabbi's premise was that since many of these traditions came about though non-religious customs, couldn't we, as Jews, adopt them in our own homes as part of our holiday celebrations? 

She went around the room soliciting opinions.  Mine was the following: "I am Jewish. If Christians have adopted certain symbols and customs as part of their religious celebration, those symbols have no place in my home."

My opinion was the shortest anyone offered.  Most people went on and on about how they or their children "celebrated both holidays" due to mixed marriages. Only one or two professed to have Jewish children and grandchildren that only celebrated Chanukah. Several said that their Christian in-laws "loved Jewish stuff" and boasted that she or he could "even say the blessings in Hebrew".  It was a little depressing. 

One argument was that "the children" are upset that "Santa doesn't love Jewish children".  All their little friends get wonderful Christmas presents. Waaaaa! I am not an expert on child rearing but my initial thought was that the parents should make a bigger deal out of Chanukah and definitely instill in those children that they are indeed Not Christians. Since I secretly suspect that More Presents will make those kiddos happy I do not perceive this "problem" as being insurmountable. 

Interestingly, I learned it is the innocuous candy cane that is one of the most religious of the Christmas symbols.  The red and white represents the blood and purity of Christ. 

The Menorah lighting in the Spanish Springs Square is at 3 pm today. I'll be there.

Chag Chanukah Sameach!

:-)

Rosh Chodesh

The ladies of my Temple have offered a new-to-me activity - the observance of Rosh Chodesh, the monthly celebration of the new month in the Jewish calendar.  This is definitely a woman-thing and has been since ancient times. No wonder women liked it - it was a day of no work for women only!

I was completely ignorant of this practice so a bit of online research was required before December 28th, the start of the lunar month of Tevet and the next Rosh Chodesh gathering. Wikipedia had a pretty good explanation: Female-centered Rosh Chodesh observances vary from group to group, but many are centered on small gatherings of women, called Rosh Chodesh groups. There is often a particular interest in the Shekinah, considered by the kabbalah to be a feminine aspect of God. These groups engage in a wide variety of activities that center around issues important to Jewish women, depending on the preference of the group's members. Many Rosh Chodesh groups explore spirituality, religious education, ritual, health issues, music, chanting, art, and/or cooking. Some groups also choose to educate young Jewish women in their community about sexuality, self-image, and other women's mental and physical health issues.

Even my 26th Great- Grandfather Rashi had something to say about Rosh Chodesh: According to the Talmud, women are forbidden to engage in work on Rosh Chodesh, and Rashi, in commenting on this passage, delineates the activities from which they must refrain: spinning, weaving, and sewing — the skills that women contributed to the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

I don't do any spinning or weaving and not much sewing but I will be happy to refrain on December 28th!

;-)

MATSCOTUS

I purchased this book at neighbor Jack's garage sale about a week ago.  He even autographed it for me although we had a bit of confusion as he asked "To? To?" (meaning who's the recipient?)  and I thought he was saying "Two! Two!" (meaning give me two dollars). Jack self published this book, a wonderful new trend that assures your novel will be published and distributed, if only to neighbors and friends.

MATSCOTUS (Murder At The Supreme Court Of The United States) has already exceeded my expectations because I am still reading it one-third of the way in. It has an interesting premise and the background material is well researched. It is at least as good as anything I could have produced. If I have any constructive criticism at this point it would be that the Murder took place in the first few pages and the last 60 or 70 pages have been all about building the background of the protagonist, Colt Montgomery.  I have almost forgotten who it is that got whacked. 

I can see why Jack did this - even a good plot cannot carry a book if there is no empathy for your main character. I now feel I know everything about Colt's mom, dad, alma mater, girlfriend, sisters, nieces, nephews and his ex-brother-in-law that I need to, at least at this point. I eagerly await the return of the murder investigation which I'm sure will resume shortly.  

I congratulate my neighbor for this effort and for capturing my interest. Trust me, I am not the easiest reader to impress!

;-)

The Truth About Tilapia

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It seems like the only things that are still safe to eat are fruits and veggies. Of course organically grown are greatly preferred by those in-the-know but so far no one has told me that the regular store bought variety will kill me.

Now I used to think I could also enjoy tilapia but after this article I'm not so sure.  And there's another article that slams my other favorites: salmon (lox!), catfish and sea bass, actually any farm raised fish that may be fed (gasp!) GMO who-knows-what. 

Eggs, butter, cheese, milk, coffee, chocolate, wine, beef, poultry and carbohydrates (even whole grains) have all had their moments of infamy: maligned as threats to the human body. They have all be reborn as healthy alternatives to the latest bad-boy food group.

Truth be told, I am eating a lot more veggies these days in my ongoing effort to blast off the handful of pounds I've gained over the past wonderful year in The Villages.  This seems to be a rite of passage; every Villager has a story of gaining weight when they first move here, much like the fifteen pounds freshmen college students seem to put on when they're finally away from home. I have been moderately successful at knocking off two of the offending five pounds but it's still a challenge. Veggies are my ally in this struggle especially lettuce, sweet peppers and cucumbers. When they are topped with Walden Farms no-calorie dressings (Creamy Bacon is my new favorite) they are really quite delicious.

I hope they hold off telling me The Truth About Veggies for awhile!

;-)

Jamaica Me Crazy

Every morning I head for my Keurig Vue coffee maker, pop in a pod and wait to be revived.  I order a variety of different coffees online every few months but tend to lean toward the flavored varieties like French Vanilla, Caramel Drizzle or Vanilla Biscotti. As we speak I am sitting here with non-flavored Breakfast Blend which is too strong for me and must be diluted with extra hot water. It won't be back in a second box. When fall weather comes around I get a box of Pumpkin Spice or Cinnamon Bun. With a little Splenda they are quite the treat.

So I was interested in this article: "23 K Cups, Ranked by a World Class Barista". His opinions ranked from "spat it out" to "great complexity and finish".

I myself am not so particular.  Hot and black are are my two basic criteria for a satisfying cup of Joe. One of my favorites, Wolfgang Puck's Jamaica Me Crazy, ranked Number 20 and was described as "Just like buttered rum. Or walking into a kitschy Christmas shop."  Actually that sounds pretty good to me, must remember to re-order that one next time my current stash gets low.

There's enough different brews out there to Jamaica Me Crazy...

;-)

Bound Together

Isn't that a great name for a ladies book club? And guess what, I got an invitation to join our neighborhood ladies book club!  I guess I really have "arrived" because I don't think this club is "advertised" and it seems like there is a restricted membership count and you get in by invitation only. The departure of two current members has opened up slots and I guess I made the grade. Yay!

The January book-of-the-month will be "The Invention of Wings" of which I am happily the owner of three electronic copies. I had to check if all my copies are complete versions (they weren't) and I saw there is also a "Cliff Notes" version out on Kindle that is a mere 100 pages (versus 435 pages in regular print or 850 in large print).  I'm already into the second chapter and I can honestly say I don't think I'll require any extra help to interpret it.

I see that coming up in the next few months will be "Defending Jacob", which I've already read (it's fantastic).  For my month I will recommend "What Alice Forgot" which (as I blogged recently) I recently finished.

When neighbor Bonnie called to invite me to join Bound Together she asked if I was an "avid reader". Am I? Maybe yes...

;-)

Jews News

I am going to apply to start a new official Villages club that will add to the 1,000 plus clubs already in existence. It will be called "Jews News" and this is the description I'll be publishing:

Jews News Discussion Group

Topics pulled from today’s headlines concerning Jews, Israel and the Middle East – current events, politics, USA relations, threats, anti-Semitism and terrorism - are all explored in this lively, open-discussion class.  Expression of all viewpoints is encouraged.  We may also learn about Jewish and Israeli culture and history through documentary films, book reviews and discussion.  Rotating discussion moderators with specific areas of knowledge are welcome. 

There was a similar group at the JCC in South Florida that I enjoyed tremendously for a brief time and there is nothing similar offered right now in The Villages. I thought about trying to get it started as part of the Temple or the Sisterhood but I know it will pull a lot more people if I make it open to everyone in The Villages (lots of Jews here are not Temple members). 

I guess my job will be to pick monthly discussion topics and circulate thought-provoking articles in advance of the meetings. Hopefully the large contingent of vocal and opinionated folks I've met here will quickly want to assist and/or take over some or all of those duties hahaha.

Wish me luck!

;-) 

The Christmas Letter

We met a nice couple on a cruise several years ago and had dinner with them every night. When they visited Fort Lauderdale a few years ago we spent the day together and we've kept in touch.

Truth be told, I did not give this "friendship" much thought.  But yesterday I received her annual Christmas card and letter and was shocked to learn that their marriage of 47 years had broken up. They have a special needs grandson and some other family problems I believe, but they seemed happy together. They loved to travel and were constantly on the move with road trips and cruises. 

To say I was shocked is an understatement. According to the letter, her husband is in Las Vegas under the influence of "casino friends". Perhaps this retired civil servant has developed a strange gambling habit in his retirement?

I am not naive. I've seen marriages of 25, 35 and now 45 years plus break apart. But I like to think of the "golden years" as the time to get closer, to finally have time to reconnect with the person you wanted to marry in the first place, to travel if you want or pursue the good times you put on hold, or just to hang out together. That's how it should be and I am deeply saddened when it's not. 

:-(

Presents for Me

Ok Let's face it. The best presents are the ones we buy for ourselves. Who knows our secret desires better than us?  Even if our loved ones know we like something like artisan jewelry or Judaica tchatchkes there are definitely items in those categories we may not appreciate. I'm a firm believer in gift cards and going with to pick out my own present.

Chanukah is coming and I have treated myself to two presents: the Season 9 DVD of 24: Live Another Day (my recordings got wiped out when we upgraded our cable service) and new flannel Nick and Nora pajamas in the-hard-to-find "travel" print.  Both presents are from e-bay, still my favorite online source of goodies.

But I must admit, my friend Kathy has me pretty well pegged.  She recently gifted me (for absolutely no reason) with two spot-on perfect items from her own stash: a hard sided handbag that says "Hollywood" and a necklace with multiple talismans to ward off the evil eye. Love them and her too; she's the best gift of all.

Can't wait to show off the handbag tonight at the Royal Oak Christmas party. Plus there are six more nights of Chanukah needing more presents for me!

;-)

Scarves

Scarves are a fashion trend that recycles itself every few years. They are back in style now with at least two dozen new ways of performing scarf origami around your neck.

You will never find me wearing one of these things. In My Humble Opinion they look ridiculous and take an extra 15 minutes of prep time to create the right illusion. If you are older they call attention to the neck waddle that curses many women of a certain age (not moi of course). They serve no purpose, at least not here in Florida (unless one is contemplating doing away with one's self in a most grisly manner poo poo poo).

A girlfriend told me she attended a Chico's fashion show where they demonstrated a zillion things you could do with these flimsy scraps of cloth. She was hooked and now has amassed quite a collection. I must admit she has demonstrated quite a flair for transforming ordinary outfits with scarves. Not for me, I am a dress quickly and get out of the house kind of gal. 

Gotta run now, bye!

;-)

One Word

I can't seem to resist those little Facebook quizzes that promise to tell you all about yourself in about a half dozen easy (but revealing) questions.  Today's quiz was "what word truly sums you up?"

I think some choices were Determined and Lively but I got Cultured. How tres boring!  Was it my answer that a favorite spot to unwind might be a coffee shop and not a pub or bar?  I met new people just last week and I'd rather live my life doing what I love than making a lot of money - don't those answers show I'm sociable and down-to-earth? OK it was a bit of a toss up what I'd like to do this weekend but in the end I opted for spending some time with friends over reading a new book. Of course that would depend on who the friends were and what new book I've got on tap!  I couldn't lie, I do think I'm smart but humble but of course the other choices were "the life of the party" or "mysterious" or some other descriptive word that I definitely am not.

Truth be told, I think a few years ago I would have summed up myself as "Striving", always trying to do better and be-all-I-could-be. Today I think "Grateful" or "Contented" would be an apt one word description.  

I guess Cultured is not the worst thing one could be. Of course I was hoping for something along the lines of Breath-taking or at least Fabulous... 

;-)

Hallmark

Big confession! Another guilty pleasure. Hallmark Christmas movies!

Totally sappy. Completely unbelievable. Undeniably gag-level sweetness. Too-good-to-be-true beautiful people who rescue abandoned animals, save lost souls, volunteer endlessly and have the cutest, best behaved children and loving extended families and friends. They live in Thomas Kinkade worthy villages and towns, in warm, inviting and perfectly decorated homes and bake delicious cookies and pies. All movies are complete with happy endings, Christmas miracles, and of course, romance.  What's not to love?

I've seen two this week already and have another scheduled on the DVR.  You fergeen me this small innocent pleasure?  C'mon it's Christmas time!  Even a Jewish maidel like myself can lose herself in the wish-it-were-real world of Hallmark movies!

;-)

Thanks Giving Part Two

I hear that employees are being "forced to work on Thanksgiving" or risk being fired. Many are upset and venting their anger online. There was a link to an article about this on Yahoo but the article has been taken down, probably because it annoyed an advertiser.

Oh boo-hoo. Sorry but that's my take on this.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how grateful we are for what we have.  It's a time for some introspection (something you can do alone and anywhere) and not just gluttony and festivities.  

A time to remember there are soldiers overseas, and police and fire and 911 dispatchers and hospital workers at their posts. 

A time to remember that 99% of the world would gladly trade places with you, living in America and employed.

It's a time to remember that it is the customers flooding into your store that allow you to have a paycheck and that the turkey and sweet potatoes and your family and friends will still be waiting for you when you get off work.

I'm for putting the "Thanks" back in Thanksgiving...

;-)

The Story of the Jews

Two DVDs arrived from Netflix yesterday: British historian Simon Shama's The Story of the Jews.  After watching just two of the five episodes I realized the following:

I didn't know as much about Jewish history as I thought I did.

No matter which country Jews found themselves in, eventually (maybe hundreds of years later) they would persecuted, marginalized, massacred and/or forced to leave (could it happen here??)

Being different is risky. Shunning the practices of your stronger neighbors breeds contempt. 

Sticking together gets you through a lot and going through hard times can unify and fortify you.   Also what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

The survival of the Jews through the millenniums is truly the most miraculous phenomena in the entire history of the world.

And, of course, I am proud to be a Jew...

Cold Case

I just finished re-reading Michael Connelly's City of Bones.  I got the urge to find it again because Amazon TV has a pilot called Bosch, named of course for the protagonist in Connelly's books.  When I saw the free pilot and realized it was the start of City of Bones, I decided I could not wait until "sometime in 2015" for the rest of the series to be released. Not to mention the fact that I don't have Amazon Prime and thus may never see the rest of the episodes unless I ante up $90, hahaha.


The book did not disappoint and truth be told, I only remembered one (unimportant) scene and certainly not the plot or the who was the murderer.  I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other books I'd enjoy "the second time around".

City of Bones is a bit like a cold case; the bones in question have been buried for 25 years. Since it was published in 2002 - and I'm sure I read it then - it has only been "buried" to me for about half that time. Time to unearth more old goodies that I may have forgotten!

;-)

But I Know...

There is no getting around it.  I have become lazy and lethargic and even (gasp!) slightly slothful in my retirement bliss. OK so I know I wanted to take it easy for awhile after the last super-charged year of moving, shopping for the house, seeing hubby through his bout with Prednisone, meeting new friends and neighbors, doing home improvements, getting settled in, coping with frightening world events and taking a breather to be thankful. But I am now ready to embark on a brand new mindset and a more even handed daily existence.

First up, a little more physical activity and a little more spiritual balance too.  I'm exploring my (many) options for Zen meditation and it's back to low impact strength training for me (I was sidelined by a slight sprain for several weeks). Also it's back to blogging, a great outlet for whatever is bothering me.

But most of all, I want to dump these (thankfully few) extra pounds I've put on due to the above mentioned slothful ways.  If I am kind to myself I will chalk them up to the stresses of the last twelve months. But as Jimmy Buffet sings: "but I know, it's my own damn fault". Hahaha.

;-)

What Alice Forgot

It's feast or famine when it comes to my reading list. I either have nothing to read but the daily newspaper or I have a wealth of riches. It does seem like the most popular authors make sure to bring out their new offerings in time for Christmas gift giving so this month I am feasting.

I just finished John Grisham's latest, Gray Mountain, and have just started Michael Connelly's The Burning Room. Up next will be Liane Moriarty's What Alice Forgot (not a new release, it's been out there since 2011).

Alice has received a bump on the noggin and has somehow lost the last ten years of her life. Instead of being a young wife and madly in love with her husband she is facing the big 4-0 and a nasty divorce. She also has misplaced two of her three children, something I'm sure all mothers would like to do from time to time (joke).

I find the thought of waking up to find myself ten years in the future terrifying.  I'm sure Alice agrees. I can only hope and pray that 75 will look as good to me as 65 does!

A special shout out to the folks who bring me these wonderful stories. You are truly appreciated.

;-)

A Supermarket in The Villages

Allen Ginsberg

Today is the Royal Oak Beatnik Coffee House, the neighborhood social event (80 people coming!) that I have carefully planned and coordinated since volunteering in May. There will be folk singers plus our resident talent, black berets for everyone, a pot luck supper, fake cigarettes and (electric) candles on the tables. And Me. I'm doing a poetry reading.

I plagiarized (bastardized) a poem by Allen Ginsberg (the poet laureate of the Beat Generation  - I saw him in person in the sixties at the University of Illinois) called "A Supermarket in California". My version is re-titled "A Supermarket in The Villages".  I've included the original version with the centerpieces along with a short dictionary of Beatnik slang. Here is my effort, wish me luck!

What thoughts I have of you tonight, Harold Schwartz, as I walked down the

streets under the live oak trees with a headache looking at the early morning sun.

In my hungry fatigue, and shopping for breakfast, I went into the neon fruit
Spanish Springs Farmers Market, dreaming of your enumerations!

What peaches and what mangoes! Whole families shopping at The Villages!  Aisles
full of husbands! Wives in the avocados, even grand-babies in the tomatoes!  And you, Jerry Carter, what were you doing down by the watermelons?

I saw you, John Johnson, happy old golfer, poking among the pastries and eyeing the baguettes.

I heard you asking questions of each: Who kneaded the dough? What price are the
bananas? What’s for dessert?

I wandered in and out of the brilliant stacks of honeybells following you Cathy Kobe, and followed in my imagination by Villages Security.

We strode down the open corridors together in our solitary fancy, tasting
freely offered samples, possessing every ripe delicacy, and never paying the cashier.

Where are we going, Harold Schwartz? The vendors close in an hour. Which way does your golf cart point tonight?

I gaze upon your statue in the waters and dream of our odyssey in the Farmers Market.

Will we walk all day and night through the streets of stores?  Will we sit on lonely benches while our women shop at Chicos? The trees add shade to shade, lights are going on in the Square and soon we'll both be Line Dancing.

Will we stroll dreaming of the lost America we left behind in frigid cold climates, remembering our old cars parked in driveways covered with snow, home to our silent former cottages?

Ah, dear Villagers, friends of Royal Oak, what flavor of Hagen-Daz did you have when the Boat Captain poled his ferry and you stood on a Sunset bank watching the boat disappear on the blue waters of Lake Sumter? 

;-)

Hope and Change

The US is REDDER today thanks to the severe trouncing of Democrats at yesterday's mid-term elections. Republicans are celebrating today but I know sobriety will kick in soon as they face dauntless challenges. As we all know, if they don't produce in the next two years the balance of power will shift once again. If I've learned anything following politics for decades it's that we always Hope and we always believe Change will solve our problems.

I hope for incredibly stronger relations with Israel. I hope the Keystone pipeline will finally be approved. I hope there will be incentives for work versus welfare and that our borders will be made secure. I hope corporate tax reform will repatriate money and jobs back to the US. I hope there will be additional choices put into Obamacare such as modified, more affordable "catastrophic" plans. I hope we will do whatever it takes to eradicate barbaric terrorism, genocide and rape.

May God Bless all of our Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen, and our Governors with wisdom and common sense.

Hope and Change (especially Change) was not such a bad slogan after all...

;-)

Thanks Giving

We closed on our new home the day before Thanksgiving last year and it was exactly a month from today that the movers arrived. So I mark December 3, 2013 as the day we officially "settled in".  

This last month before our one year anniversary in our new home is special to me so I respectfully dedicate the entire month of November 2014 to giving thanks.

I am oh-so-grateful for my wonderful life, my awesome husband, for the beauty I see and for the security I feel around me, for wonderful new and dear old friends, for invitations to play games and go out, and for events to look forward to. I'm grateful for our health and a general feeling that all is well. I am grateful that past failures and weird life detours did not impact our happiness in these later years. I'm grateful for Florida and The Villages and finding joy in our synagogue. 

Happy and thankful  me...

;-)

Utopia

H. Gary Morse, R.I.P.

Gary Morse, the developer of The Villages, passed away last week. Several newspaper obituaries referred to the result of his lifetime work as a "Senior Utopia". Here's a quote from ABC News:  (The Villages) is unmatched in both the breadth of its vision and its scale: 600 holes of golf, dozens of restaurants and stores, and so many activities — archery to scrapbooking to Spanish classes — that it almost seems like summer camp for seniors. Residents zip along in souped-up golf carts to town squares that look like Hollywood sets, downing cheap margaritas and dancing in gazebos before returning to homes that range from simple ranches under $90,000 to mansions topping $1 million.

Oh I agree, this place is Utopia. I consider it our well deserved reward for a lifetime of hard work, saving, perseverance and trying to do the "right thing". But it's not the number of golf holes, the nightly live entertainment or the relatively inexpensive cost of living (at least compared to our previous lives in Chicago and South Florida). It's not even the fact that my calendar is already filled with fun things to do and a thick weekly "recreation guide" offers even more.

Nope, my Utopia is great because it is filled with people who (apparently) like us. A friend who checked the next day to see how I was when I had to cancel dinner out and services. Neighbors who call to see if I'd like to go to a movie or join them in an impromptu event. Friends who pick up a tchatchke for me that they think I'll like. People who wave at us as we pass their homes in our golf cart. I think I could knock on any neighbor's door for help if it was ever needed.

That's my Utopia. Thank you Gary Morse for making it all happen for us and for the thousands of other "happy campers" in The Villages.

;-)

Chickensh*t

Chickenshit? I think not.

I admit it, I'm a fan. I heart Bibi!

Of course I'm talking about Benjamin Netanyahu, the gutsy, articulate Prime Minister of Israel. Sometimes I'll agree with the more aggressive policies of other Israeli politicians like Avigdor Lieberman and Danny Danon, but mostly I'm glad Israel is governed by Bibi's pragmatism, steady hand and sober thinking. 

I'm mightily dismayed that anyone, much less my own government, would refer to Bibi as "chickenshit". Oy! But it's undeniable, even Obama admitted it and gave a weak, very weak, acknowledgement (not an apology).

Aside from the obvious - this is no way to treat your great ally - who can possibly make the argument that Bibi is a chickenshit? A man who fought in the 1967, 1968, 1972 and 1973 battlefields. Who kept on fighting after he was wounded. Whose brother, Yoni, was the commander of the elite Israeli army commando unit and the only Israeli soldier killed in action during the daring operation in Entebbe Uganda, an operation that successfully freed many innocent hostages. How dare any pencil pushing idiot with a patronage job call Bibi anything but a hero and a national treasure and a true friend of democracy and America?

Thank you Bibi. You have had a rough road sometimes and have steadfastly fought on every front - the military battleground and the political combat zone  - for Israel's survival.

 תודה לך

Aldi

Although I normally eschew all things German or originating from German companies, I must admit, Aldi is an exception.  In my new life as a (want to be more frugal) retiree and with St Louis based Save-A-Lot too far away, Aldi has become my favorite grocery store. The prices cannot be beat and you get checked out super quickly since bagging is done by you (me).

And my suspicions have been confirmed - they even beat WalMart's prices: 

"A recent survey of prices on 37 standard grocery items by Cheapism.com, a Web site that seeks out the best cheap products, found that discount grocer Aldi beat Walmart's prices by 15%. When we independently checked regular prices at both stores, prepackaged ground beef was among the items that we found for less at Aldi than at Walmart. In fact, ground beef was $1 less per pound at Aldi."

Along with Dollar Tree, Bealls Outlet and Ross Dress For Less, Aldi rounds out my favorite haunts for good deals. I hit each of them at least once a week. Ok, you're right, WalMart is still in the mix also.

A retiree can't be too careful with her pension bucks, can she? 

;-) :-)

Three Retirement Goals

I read this article today:  "Three Retirement Goals People Never Achieve". Being a goal-oriented person and thus anxious to achieve all retirement goals, I was very intrigued at what those goals could be.

Number 1 - Save a million dollars. I think having the funds necessary to secure one's own image of a comfortable retirement is far more important than some arbitrary number.

Number 2 - Write a book. I can understand how every person thinks they have learned something meaningful in their life and wants to leave a record of their existence.  In my case, this desire is well satisfied by my blogging efforts.  It's like writing a book that never ends!

Number 3 - Hike the Appalachian Trail.  Not a goal I have ever even thought about.  But if I had wanted to hike anywhere, I would have done it when I was in my twenties, hahaha.

I did and do have Retirement Goals. Learn to play Maj Jong (check). Create a warm and welcoming "forever" home (check).  Leave stress and worry behind (check).  Make new friends, entertain at home, get involved in community and social groups (on my way). 

The best  Retirement Goal?  Cherish each day - we have less of them to look forward to!!

;-)

In My Queue

I try to stay current with the times but I do have a guilty pleasure that I fear dates me as a an old relic from the last decade.  I still enjoy getting DVDs in the mail from Netflix.

Although I've tried several times to switch to or at least add streaming Netflix, I find the movies and TV shows I want are just not there. At least not yet.  It's a rare occurrence to not find something I'm seeking available on DVD.  A notable exception to this rule is "House of Cards", a Netflix original series. Its latest seasons are only available with a streaming plan so when Season Three debuts I will have to sign up for streaming once again.

Last week I ordered Exodus from 1960 and this week I ordered Hopscotch from 1980.  Netflix is always on target with their recommendations. They guessed I'd give Hopscotch 4.4 stars but if I remember it correctly I'm sure it rates the five stars I gave it.  In any case it will fun seeing it again; 1980 was a long time ago, hahaha.

It's in my queue along with 17 others (and 28 "saved" titles)...

;-)

Shalom Rav

Shabbat services are definitely not the time to engage in political discourse but when Nachman, whom I like very much, voiced his approval of President Obama and expressed disdain for my feelings about the administration's policies toward Israel, I had to respond. Why do I feel Obama does not support Israel, he asked.

In the few moments before the service started I rattled off a handful of recent occurrences that could not be misinterpreted as anything but the administration's slighting and endangerment of Israeli security. It was obvious my friend (I really like this man) did not know much about recent US-Israel relations; he was speechless.

This 30 minute youtube video does a nice job of factually explaining Obama's policies toward Israel but it only goes up to 2012. The last two years have been much worse for US-Israeli relations.

I wanted to get back into the Shabbos mood and not think about politics for the next hour and a half.  It really helped when Nancy, Nachman's wife, got up from the choir to sing her beautiful version of Shalom Rav, "Abundant Peace".  Tears always gather in my eyes whenever I hear her sing this magnificent prayer for peace.  I really hope our current President, and the ones who follow him, feel the same way.

On the plus side, Nachman and I are still friends and I hope to go out with them soon for a politics-free dinner.

;-)

Dollar Tree

I've discovered Dollar Tree, the magical place where everything costs a buck. You will be amazed by all the stuff you need and can get there. Load up the cart and check out for a pittance!

So what do I buy there? Don't laugh but here's a sampling of my Dollar Tree purchases that I love and would go out of my way to buy again.

Makeup. I know a classy lady like me is expected to spend a mint on the fancy makeup products shown in glossy magazines. But the $1 pressed powder compact from Dollar Tree is slim (for fitting in my purse) and works great. I've tried the lipsticks, concealer stick, nail polishes and even hair dye (!) too with no complaints. I can't wait to try more but I have to work through my substantial in-home stockpile first, hahaha.

Cups. I had to buy coffee cups for centerpieces for my Beatnik Coffee House and found the perfect thing at Dollar Tree. Wal-Mart and Big Lots could not touch them even for three times the price. 

Hydro-cortisone and Benadryl cream. Hubby used a boatload of these when going through his bad spell with Prednisone and Dollar Tree had the same formula for much cheaper.

Baby Oil. Toilet Bowl drop-ins. Cleanser. Paper plates and party goods. Greeting cards and gift bags. Sugarless candy. Chewing gum. Office supplies. Tea candles. Cooking utensils. yep, yep, yep

Shop guilt free! Give Dollar Tree a try!

;-)

O Canada

If Chicago and Florida are my first homes and Israel is my second home, then Canada is definitely Number Three. Much of my family lives there and I myself lived Up North for three of my earliest and most impressionable years.

Canada has been in the news for the past few days because of two terrible terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of two Canadian soldiers. I can't help but feel a personal connection to this wonderful country and its fantastic Prime Minister (I wish he were our President).

When I returned to the United States from my three years in Canada I was in third grade. I sang "O Canada" instead of the Star Spangled Banner and I spelled lots of words with "e"s instead of "a"s and I also stuck in a lot of "u"s and other superfluous letters (like grey, behaviour, catalogue, colour, labelled etc.)  Truth be told, I still find myself spelling a few of them the "wrong" way.  I couldn't recite the Pledge of Allegiance and I only knew about the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving because my All American mother insisted on celebrating them.

I still love returning to Canada for a simcha and seeing some of my old haunts, our old house (brand new and barren when we lived there but now old, stately and well shaded), the graves of my ancestors and my old elementary school. Canada has become tremendously more diversified but it is still clean, beautiful and COLD, hahaha.

O Canada. You still have a piece of my heart...

:-)

Live Entertainment

We always enjoyed live entertainment - a stage play or some music - but I never dreamed we'd be doing so much of it here in The Villages. Both the Temple and The Villages offer a wealth of choices and I see a little pile of tickets are accumulating on my desk.

Next Saturday will be "The Songs of Stephen Sondheim" and the Saturday after that will be "Starry Starry 5".  A few days later is the Jewish War Veterans' "Sweet Land of Liberty" and a few days after that the "Café Time Machine". All this entertainment wraps up with "An Evening with the Rat Pack" on December 6th. And all of these events help support worthy causes so I'm doing a mitzvah as I have a night out. Stuck in the middle of all this will be the event I put together for the neighborhood - the "Royal Oak Beatnik Coffee House".

It's fun to dress up a little and go out on the town. Especially if the town is The Villages and you'll see and be seen by your friends and neighbors, right?

;-)