O Christmas Tree

I almost called this blog entry "O PALEEEEZ!" 

The Governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee has renamed the Christmas Tree in the RI Statehouse a "Holiday Tree" in an effort to be Politically Correct I guess.

I am a Jew (in case that escaped anyone's notice) and I can state unequivocally that if it is some kind of towering evergreen or plastic facsimile and it is decorated with ornaments and tinsel or even popcorn strings and it has an angel or star at the top, it is most definitely a Christmas Tree.  I can also state without hesitation that calling it a Holiday Tree will not in any way make it part of my holiday tradition nor will it somehow make me feel "included".  I am sure other non-Christians feel the same way.

Do not take this to mean I do not like Christmas Trees.  I really do love seeing Other People's Trees (some are breathtaking) and honestly enjoy cruising the neighborhoods that go whole-hog with their displays. 

Please do not rename your Christmas Tree on my account. 

;-)

Da Bears

Confession: I have been sleeping with these guys for the past 25 years (or more), ever since I bought them as a present for Jake, my two year old neighbor.  They obviously never made it to Jake's house.  I could not resist them, they were so soft and cuddly and they made me smile. 

Their names are Eskimo Pie ("Pie") and Fudgicle ("Fudgie"). Guess which is which ;-)

I have been told that after a heart operation patients are sometimes given a pillow, maybe heart shaped, to put on their chest.  This provides a sense of calm and well being.  I know this is true because Pie and Fudgie have been doing this for me for a long time.

The Snowbirds Part Three of Three

The last set of snowbirds are cousins Morry and Barbara. It was a happy day several years ago when they chose West Palm Beach for their winter retirement home. Of course, being close to us tipped their decision over Puerta Vallarta or Naples!

Having Morry and Barb here for six months of the year means that there are loved ones to share Chanukah (with presents!) and Passover (we alternate houses each year).

Morry's a retired cop and Chief of Police and Barb's a retired teacher. Like us, they have no children. Barb declared that she and I must have been separated at birth and we are actually sisters! Wow! She buys me tchatchkes with "sisters" on it whenever she finds it.

Truth be told, they are my favorite snowbirds and I hate it when those birds fly back to Chicago every spring.

The Snowbirds Part Two

Brunch today at Giorgio's Grill on the Hollywood Intercoastal with returning snowbirds - cousins Jeannie and Marek Sutkiewicz!  I am excited and not just because there's all-you-can-eat lox on the menu!

Cousin Jeannie (grand-daughter of my father's sister Gittel who perished in the Holocaust) and I were close when we were teenagers.  We stopped writing after we both married and our lives took different directions.

In March 2007, Jeannie sent me an email and we renewed our friendship as if the almost 40 years were nothing.  My BFF had passed away the previous year and I took Jeannie's reappearance in my life as a gift from Heaven.  (I am very mushy that way)

Jeannie is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and her second husband Marek is himself a Holocaust survivor.  He is 22 years her senior (84) but it is a wonderful match and God Willing, they will have many more happy years together.  But the specter of the Holocaust is never far from their thoughts.

Jeannie is a bona-fide "yenta" and Jewish Princess par excellence. She is also gorgeous, she's smart, well-read and educated (even without any college), she speaks four languages fluently, she's a great friend and a true joy in my life.

Even better than all-you-can-eat lox  ;-)

The Snowbirds Part One

Cousins Frimette and Milton ("Mickey") called yesterday.  They are back in their condo in Hallandale Beach, escaping another Toronto winter.

Frimette is my first cousin, my father's sister Edith's daughter.  She is exactly 20 years older than me (82) and has been married exactly 20 years longer than me (62 years).  She is named for Frimet Faygel, my great grandmother, the lady though whom the cousins and I can track our lineage back to Rashi.

Frimette and Mickey are still good looking and very active.  They travel a bunch to exotic places I have zero interest in. Mickey tells jokes. Did I mention they are loaded?  They endowed a chair at the Ben Gurion University in Israel in nanotechnology (not cheap) but are careful to make sure they only go to the "early bird specials" when we eat out.

My mother told me that when she was pregnant with me she stared at Frimette (who was 20 at the time) in the hopes that I would come out looking like her.  Don't laugh, I do believe we look a bit alike.  Maybe it worked?? Who knew?

I'm truly looking forward to our dinner at Moe's Deli (the Early Bird of course!) on Wednesday night.

;-)

Holiday Prep Part Two

Chanukah is a little late this year but timed well to coincide with Christmas.  Always a plus for the kiddies.

It does not take much but I do in fact prep a little.  Step One: getting out the menorahs. 

Purchased at Glenbrook Hospital while visiting sick friend.  Love the Kotel motif!

Can you believe?  Found at a garage sale!  It's gorgeous!

A gift from a dear friend who has been Englican, Jewish and now Catholic.

A gift from cousin Barbara :-)

Forgot when but its been here awhile...

My parent's Menorah, I grew up with this one.

Homemade Menorah from the 80's, still used every year

Fields

I've been watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and I truly do appreciate the part that parade has played in making my many Thanksgivings special.

But I am a true Chicagoan and deep down I am still sorry that Macy's replaced Marshall Fields, a Chicago icon for decades, if not for a century.

When I was a girl the supreme treat would be a visit to the downtown flagship store to see the incomparable Fields Christmas tree in the famed Walnut Room.  Of course, we could never afford to eat there.  But after I married and became "affluent", it was a dream-come-true to finally be able to join the "upper crust" of Chicago Society (not really but that's what I perceived) and have lunch right there!  Right beside the tree!

When I was young I thought that if I ever became "rich" I would shop at Fields.  I  never got that "rich" but my dining room set did come from the downtown Fields and I treasure it even more because of that. 

Nothing will replace Marshall Fields and Company in my mind and my memories.  And in my heart.

Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for, I am filled to the brim with Joy and Gratitude.  My cup truly does runneth over.

No Butts

Under the heading of "you must be joking" comes the story of (let's assume) otherwise sane South Florida women having their butts injected with cement, mineral oil and flat tire sealant.

One might be tempted to wonder at the lengths women might go to to have their flat derrieres pumped up.  A confession: I am also in the category of women who wish for a little more padding in that area.

Another confession: I have also gone to great lengths to fulfill my tushy dream.  But my efforts stopped after I bought Booty Pop!

The Job Front

It's amazing to me that the only two resumes I sent out garnered me two interviews for Director of Information Technology positions for two top-tier employers in this job wasteland called South Florida and in the midst of "the greatest recession since the Great Depression".   Nice ego boost!

Am I truly interested?  It's hard to say.  It would be nice to finish my career in the top slot in IT.  It would be nice to feel I am worth more than my recently cut salary and benefits and the four plus years without a raise. It would be nice to give the finger salute to the Human Resources Director who put the kibosh on my promotion to Assistant Director two years ago, even though my boss and the City Manager had approved it.  And it would be nice not to have to see the City's website outsourced and revamped as I consider it a personal accomplishment (after all, it has consistently placed us in the Top Ten of Digital Cities).

Do I have the energy to undertake a new job after almost 12 years at Hollywood?  I think so.

After I interviewed with the Seminole Tribe I knew that particular position wasn't for me.  I'll try interviewing with Pembroke Pines today and see how it goes...

;-)