Coronavirus Pep Talk

You could tell from her Facebook post this morning that goddaughter Laura was stressing out a bit from the quarantine/shelter-in-place/stay at home requirements.  Who wouldn't stress with 3 children home from school for weeks and all of their seemingly hundreds of missed activities?  A pep talk was in order for her, and of course, even I could use one about now hahaha.  

Here it is and her response definitely cheered me up too. 

Rashi Wine

OK, I mentioned I don't drink alcohol but since finding this delicious light red wine named for my 26th great grandfather I am hooked!  It's made in New York State and has a low alcohol content (6%, is that good?).  

Since I hear a little red wine is good for you, I am adding about 4 ounces a day to my new (still trying!) diet plan. I have looked it up and the light pink is only 40 calories per 4 ounces.  Who knows?  And with this Coronavirus stress a little mind numbing may be an added benefit.

The bottle has a lovely story about my ancestor which I also appreciate.  Worth an hour and a half trip to Tampa to procure it at Jo-elle's!

It Works If You Work It

The full line of the AA adage is: It works if you work it and you’re worth it. 

This is Day 4 of my self-care challenge and I am happy with the results.  Vitamins ✔ Eating "real" meals ✔

I won't say it has been completely easy.  I have been tempted.  Luckily, just as I was about to give in I was called away to a chore or diversion.  

I'm trying hard.  One Day At A Time.

I'm Worth It!

Self Care Day Two

Today is Day Two of my self care challenges - take my vitamins and improve crappy eating habits.  Improvement on crappy eating habits includes eliminating sugar and flour, and eating "real" meals, not just snacking all day.  

Eliminating sugar and flour leaves veggies, fruit, chicken, fish, oatmeal, cheese and eggs. I like that stuff so I am planning on SUCCESS!

Self care also means eliminating stress and I have accomplished a big hunk of stress-elimination when I convinced hubby to finally get out of the stock market.  No more watching the Dow fluctuate every day, an activity that has driven me cray-cray for the past 40 years or so.  

Journaling is also bigly recommended for self care.  So I'll add continuing my Dear Diary as my number 3 challenge!

The Self Care Solution

I haven't blogged for years (3+) but staying home as much as possible due to the restrictions of the Coronovirus pandemic has inspired me to start again.

Thankfully the cold I had suffered for over a week subsided last week and it was, happily, just a cold.  I admit I was a tad worried.  

If it weren't for the horrible situation the world finds itself I admit I could stay happily at home with hubby for most of the time.  It is peaceful and I admit I am never bored.  There is Prime Video, Netflix, books, bathtub, household chores and the internet.  The day goes by so quickly!  

However, I have decided not to waste this opportunity for self reflection and self improvement.  I am reading "The Self Care Solution - a year of becoming happier, healthier and fitter" by Dr. Jennifer Ashton.  Her twelve months of improvements are not the twelve challenges I would pick for myself though.

I do not need a "dry month" as I don't drink alcohol and I am surely not about to start doing "push ups and planks" (whatever that is).  So I have made a list of my own challenges.

First up, TAKE MY VITAMINS!  I credit them with feeling better the last two weeks and licking my hard-to-defeat cold.

Next up, REGULAR MEALS!  No more crappy eating habits!  More on this tomorrow.

Bat Mitzvah Speech

I don't think a lot of people managed to hear my Bat Mitzvah speech.  It came from the heart and I got so verklempt I could not get many of the words out.  Even Hubby, who sat in the front row, asked me for a copy so he could read what I said about him.  Here it is:

___________________________________________________________________________

I am a Jew, and now, a Bat Mitzvah.

I am the proud scion of an ancient people, a member of the tribe of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  

My ancestors stood at the shores of the Red Sea, and my aunt and her family stood at the gates of Auschwitz. 

I am my mother’s Friday night chicken soup, my father’s Yiddisha songs and the sound of his shofar.

I am the proud sister of every Jewish doctor, lawyer, humanitarian, author, scientist, scholar and benefactor of society.

I am the survivor of every pogrom and persecution.

Together with my bashert, I stood under a chupah and pledged my commitment according to the Laws of Moses and Israel.

I love the USA but my ancestral homeland lies half a world away, in Eretz Yisrael. 

You can see my Jewishness on my face and on the walls and book shelves and doorposts of my home.

My Jewishness cannot be opted into or out of.  As Mayim Bialik said, Jewish is more than my religion. It is my identity, my DNA, my personhood.

Today I fulfill a promise I made only to myself. I did not have to learn Hebrew to please anyone or become “more Jewish”. The promises we make to ourselves are often the most difficult to keep.

My Torah portion, Ki Tavo, tells how Moses, nearing the end of his days and with his life’s work behind him, looked out on the Promised Land. He knew his people would go forth and thrive. I plan to do exactly that.

I thank my patient and extremely knowledgeable Bat Mitzvah coach Larry Wallace, who gave hours of his time and knowledge to help me reach my goal. I thank all of you for sharing this day and my journey. And I thank and honor the man who has supported me unconditionally in whatever dream or challenge I have undertaken to pursue over the last 50 years, since we were both teenagers, my husband Stu.

Shabbat Shalom.

44 Things

44 Odd Things You Don't Know About Me
1. Do you like blue cheese? IT'S JUST OK
2. Have you ever smoked? NO
3. Do you own a gun? I DO
4. What is your favorite flavor? CHOCOLATE
5.Do you get nervous before a dr visit? NO
6. What do you think of hot dogs? CHICAGO DOGS!.
7. Favorite movie? FREQUENCY
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? COFFEE
9. Do you do push ups? NEVER
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? MY WEDDING RING
11. Favorite hobby? MAH JONGG
12. Do you have A.D.D? NO
13. What's one thing you don't like about yourself? I WORRY TOO MUCH
14. Middle name? ROCHELLE
15. Name three thoughts at this moment. I WORRY TOO MUCH. I NEED TO STUDY FOR MY BAT MITZVAH. MORE COFFEE!
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? THOSE ICE FRUITY-WATER DRINKS, COFFEE. MORE COFFEE.
17. Current worry? THE ELECTION
18. Current annoyance right now? POLITICS! ENOUGH!!!
19. Favorite place to be? HOME WITH HUBBY
20. How do you bring in the New Year? MOSTLY QUIETLY
21. Where would you like to go? NAWLINS!
22. Name three people who will do this? ? ? ?
23. Do you own slippers? NO
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Army Green
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? NO
26. Can you whistle? YES
27. What are your favorite colors? DEEP RED, TEAL, AQUA
28. Would you be a pirate? NO
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? BABY THE RAIN MUST FALL
30. Favorite girls name? RACHEL
31. Favorite boys name? STUART
32. What’s in your pocket right now? LINT
33. Last thing that made you laugh? SILLY JOKE
34. Best toy as a child? MY BIKE
35. Worst injury you have ever had? FRACTURED ANKLE
36. Where would you love to live? I'M HERE IN THE VILLAGES
37. How many TV’s do you have? 3
38. Who is your loudest child?  NO ONE
39. How many dogs do you have? NONE
40. Does someone trust you? YES.
41. What book are you reading?  INNOCENT BLOOD BY MICHAEL LISTER
42. What’s your favorite candy? MOUNDS
43. What’s your favorite sports team? DA BEARS!
44. Favorite month? OCTOBER.

What I Love About Mondays

I once blogged about "What I Love About Sunday", inspired by the song of the same name. But I can even claim to love Mondays!

Mondays are of course, far, far better since I retired 4+ years ago.

Mondays mean the start of a new week and the start of anything means new possibilities and a chance to make this week better than last. The garbage from the weekend and the past week will be picked up and recycled (literally). Workmen will come and fix up the neighborhood. Life will return to its regular weekday beat.

So what's up for me for the new week? Trump planning meeting (today, maybe). Mah Jongg (Tuesday). Tyrant S3E2 (Wednesday, for sure). Getting the tile cleaned, colored and sealed (Friday! Yay!).

But  first, coffee!!

;-)

Long Sigh Day

Today is my day for a long, stretched out sigh. How do I know this? My horoscope told me. 

My horoscopes have been pretty nice to me the last few days so I am happy to take its advice and chill, at least for today. I have my new Roomba to do the vacuuming and a beautiful sunny day to enjoy. It's also 20% off day at Big Lots so a trip to Leesburg or Ocala is on the agenda. A new movie will be in the mailbox and I have a best seller on the nightstand. 

Ahh, long sigh....

Israel Education Committee

I am part of a new Temple Committee - the Israel Education Committee.  We are still deciding if "Israel Solidarity Committee" should be its new name but I prefer the emphasis on education.

I only sent an email a few weeks ago to the lady who was starting the committee expressing my generic "interest" and I really didn't expect to be one of seven on the committee "board".  But I am happy to help. It is a topic I am indeed passionate about and I am a consistent complainer about the lack of learning opportunities offered by our Temple. 

I have an assignment. Truth be told, I have wanted to do this for a long time: to offer Jewish film nights. I thought about showing a film at our Havurah but it would crimp socialization and folks were not enthusiastic. Now I'll get a chance to research Israeli films.

I've seen quite a few and a lot can be pretty dull.  But I've ordered a new one, The Attack, and I'll review it and hopefully be able to offer it in November at our first Israeli Film Night.  Popcorn included!

;-)