Jonathan is so proud.
Off to Indiana for my pulpit...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
A few musings when I should be doing homework
Sometimes your brain is just fried, you know? So here I am in the library ignoring my stack of books and taking a blogging break.
First, and perhaps most pertinent to this exact moment: I do not like Talmud. I have tried, really I have. The professor is amazing, I'm engaged in the material, I understand it perfectly. I just... don't like it. It's law. Stupid tiny picayune details that I can't bring myself to care about. I like the underlying issues, I really get into the philosophy of law (big surprise), but the class is focused on understanding all the details. It's torture. Albeit with a good teacher.
You all will be amused, but perhaps not surprised, to learn that Xander likes spice. We tried to give him chicken pot pie for dinner last night. "Tried" being the operative word, because he smeared it all over the high chair and refused to eat it. He kept looking at our food, Indian leftovers, and whining. All right, we figured, sure, we'll give him a little just so he'll know he doesn't like it, and he can eat his own dinner. WRONG. He ate it all up quickly and asked for more! So: chicken pot pie is boring, but basmati rice with chicken makhani and aloo sag apparently is just what growing boy needs.
And last but not least, Governor Strickland thinks that my son is cute! He showed up at the American Jewish Archives last night to record a greeting that will be played at the new library opening this weekend. He did a meet-and-greet on the way out, and of course he had to stop to talk to the babies. Xander gave him his best winning smile, the governor stroked his cheek, and yay! the boy now has political approval. :)
First, and perhaps most pertinent to this exact moment: I do not like Talmud. I have tried, really I have. The professor is amazing, I'm engaged in the material, I understand it perfectly. I just... don't like it. It's law. Stupid tiny picayune details that I can't bring myself to care about. I like the underlying issues, I really get into the philosophy of law (big surprise), but the class is focused on understanding all the details. It's torture. Albeit with a good teacher.
You all will be amused, but perhaps not surprised, to learn that Xander likes spice. We tried to give him chicken pot pie for dinner last night. "Tried" being the operative word, because he smeared it all over the high chair and refused to eat it. He kept looking at our food, Indian leftovers, and whining. All right, we figured, sure, we'll give him a little just so he'll know he doesn't like it, and he can eat his own dinner. WRONG. He ate it all up quickly and asked for more! So: chicken pot pie is boring, but basmati rice with chicken makhani and aloo sag apparently is just what growing boy needs.
And last but not least, Governor Strickland thinks that my son is cute! He showed up at the American Jewish Archives last night to record a greeting that will be played at the new library opening this weekend. He did a meet-and-greet on the way out, and of course he had to stop to talk to the babies. Xander gave him his best winning smile, the governor stroked his cheek, and yay! the boy now has political approval. :)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Gwen and Sylvan visit!
It's almost bedtime, but here are some highlights:
- Yentl loves to sleep in their suitcase. She pined in the guestroom after they left.
- FOOD. Crepes and samosas and chicken, oh my. I love when parents come to visit. They leave us with a full refrigerator.
- Gwen helped me organize the kitchen! We spent a blissful three hours rearranging pots and pans. Jonathan and Sylvan rolled their eyes and did manly things.
- We have new glasses now, and new wineglasses. This makes me feel better about dropping some, because now we have replacements.
- As Shabbat dinner ended, 2 1/2 year old Claudia needed to get past Simcha, who was lying on the floor. "Excuse me, meow-meow! Please move, meow-meow!" It was the cutest thing ever.
- Yentl loves to sleep in their suitcase. She pined in the guestroom after they left.
- FOOD. Crepes and samosas and chicken, oh my. I love when parents come to visit. They leave us with a full refrigerator.
- Gwen helped me organize the kitchen! We spent a blissful three hours rearranging pots and pans. Jonathan and Sylvan rolled their eyes and did manly things.
- We have new glasses now, and new wineglasses. This makes me feel better about dropping some, because now we have replacements.
- As Shabbat dinner ended, 2 1/2 year old Claudia needed to get past Simcha, who was lying on the floor. "Excuse me, meow-meow! Please move, meow-meow!" It was the cutest thing ever.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Renaissance Faire last weekend
If I take the time to think of cute captions these will never be posted... so sorry! The main thing to know is that we went with Deann and family, and it was 43 degrees. The last pic is of Xander's souvenir dragon.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Yesterday's fun
He likes to destroy Jonathan's creations more than he likes to build his own.Birthday gift from Bubby. This is why we hate her.
Snot-nosed child
I always swore I wouldn't have one, and yet here I am. Sitting at home with a little boy who has a drippy nose. No matter how often I wipe it, it still looks the same. How does this happen? It's a mystery, on par with Elvis, Amelia Earhart and the Bermuda Triangle.
Wish us good healing vibes, and send virtual chicken soup.
Wish us good healing vibes, and send virtual chicken soup.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Shabbat cuteness
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, I say.
Look, Mommy, I'm driving the car!
Everyone cheer for a heated house.Wednesday, October 14, 2009
I am going to cry
This is the weather forecast for tomorrow.
Suddenly global warming doesn't seem so bad....
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Suddenly global warming doesn't seem so bad....
Six random things for your edification and amusement
1) Xander has two more front teeth coming in! This helps with the eating. And eat he does... bananas, pasta, cheese, crackers, apples, chicken fingers, you name it, he eats it. He must be on a growth spurt.
2) Thanks to said growth spurt, he's been sleeping 11 to 12 hours at a time. Can you see me doing my happy dance?
3) I read up on Samaritans because of the manuscript in the library (and because I was confused on Sheryl's comment on reading the language). They officially dated the manuscript to 1145 CE! The Samaritans are people in Israel who live as Biblical, and not rabbinic Jews (meaning they don't follow anything that the Talmud decreed, so they don't have the holidays of Hanukkah, they don't keep kosher, etc). Did you know that they used a paleo-Hebrew script, instead of the standard Aramaic script that we consider to be the Hebrew letters? I didn't know that before. The Encyclopedia Judaica article on it is quite boring, but Wikipedia has pretty pictures to explain.
4) Jonathan and I rented the Steve Martin movie Parenthood, and we sooo related. Then we felt old. :)
5) We recently celebrated our five year anniversary, yes? As of yesterday, I scrapbooked our wedding. I figured it was time. :)
6) And last but certainly not least - we've been trying to save money on utilities, but it was 58 degrees in our kitchen tonight when we were eating dinner. And would you believe, that baby just did NOT want to wear his hat. Jonathan finally caved to my demands and we turned on the heat. It's up to a whopping 65 and we're still bundled up, but ooohhhh it feels practically toasty...
2) Thanks to said growth spurt, he's been sleeping 11 to 12 hours at a time. Can you see me doing my happy dance?
3) I read up on Samaritans because of the manuscript in the library (and because I was confused on Sheryl's comment on reading the language). They officially dated the manuscript to 1145 CE! The Samaritans are people in Israel who live as Biblical, and not rabbinic Jews (meaning they don't follow anything that the Talmud decreed, so they don't have the holidays of Hanukkah, they don't keep kosher, etc). Did you know that they used a paleo-Hebrew script, instead of the standard Aramaic script that we consider to be the Hebrew letters? I didn't know that before. The Encyclopedia Judaica article on it is quite boring, but Wikipedia has pretty pictures to explain.
4) Jonathan and I rented the Steve Martin movie Parenthood, and we sooo related. Then we felt old. :)
5) We recently celebrated our five year anniversary, yes? As of yesterday, I scrapbooked our wedding. I figured it was time. :)
6) And last but certainly not least - we've been trying to save money on utilities, but it was 58 degrees in our kitchen tonight when we were eating dinner. And would you believe, that baby just did NOT want to wear his hat. Jonathan finally caved to my demands and we turned on the heat. It's up to a whopping 65 and we're still bundled up, but ooohhhh it feels practically toasty...
I love my class on Hellenism
Why Josephus, the Jewish Roman historian, thinks that the Jewish political system is best:
1) The Greeks vacillated between three sets of government:
Monarchy= rule of one
Aristocracy=rule of the elite
Democracy=rule of the people
2) The Romans tried to have a "mixed constitution" with all three. The Roman Republic fell. (Incidentally, the U.S. Constitution copied the Romans.)
Greek monarchy=Roman consuls=U.S. president
Greek aristocracy=Roman senate=U.S. Senate
Greek democracy=Roman assembly=U.S. House of Representatives
3) Josephus actually coined the term "theocracy." He thinks that the Greek and Roman systems didn't work and that best rule was one where you looked to a divine basis for governance. He follows Plato, who said in the Republic that the ideal society is ruled by a philosopher-king, and in case the phil-king is lacking, you have city laws.
4) According to Josephus, the Jews rocked because they had a High Priest as phil-king as well as Mosaic Law. Theocracy is found in the Bible, and is superior because the Jews still exist as a lawful society.
I don't agree, obviously, but cool logic! (You should also know that this class involved heavy discussion of Star Wars, including how the Republic is always the morally right underdog and how Caesar gets a bad rap as the Emperor Palpatine...)
1) The Greeks vacillated between three sets of government:
Monarchy= rule of one
Aristocracy=rule of the elite
Democracy=rule of the people
2) The Romans tried to have a "mixed constitution" with all three. The Roman Republic fell. (Incidentally, the U.S. Constitution copied the Romans.)
Greek monarchy=Roman consuls=U.S. president
Greek aristocracy=Roman senate=U.S. Senate
Greek democracy=Roman assembly=U.S. House of Representatives
3) Josephus actually coined the term "theocracy." He thinks that the Greek and Roman systems didn't work and that best rule was one where you looked to a divine basis for governance. He follows Plato, who said in the Republic that the ideal society is ruled by a philosopher-king, and in case the phil-king is lacking, you have city laws.
4) According to Josephus, the Jews rocked because they had a High Priest as phil-king as well as Mosaic Law. Theocracy is found in the Bible, and is superior because the Jews still exist as a lawful society.
I don't agree, obviously, but cool logic! (You should also know that this class involved heavy discussion of Star Wars, including how the Republic is always the morally right underdog and how Caesar gets a bad rap as the Emperor Palpatine...)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Totally made my day
I walked into the library to sit at my usual table, and was shocked - it was covered with an ancient looking manuscript with frayed edges, and a librarian was standing up over it on a chair taking pictures. Turns out it's a Samaritan manuscript that the library didn't know it had, so they're cataloguing it. There are two dates on it, so it's either from 1170 or 1391. Either way, I forgave them for making me move!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
One year old Xander
Birthday party last weekend! The things you need to know: the party was at a park, and it was a chilly 65 degrees. It was a good mix of people from HUC, Jonathan's work, and my home birth network, and we all schmoozed, ate cake, and watched Xander open presents. The biggest hit was a push-cart from Janelle - the boy was so obsessed with it, he wouldn't let go of it even to pose for pictures. He also spent the last 20 minutes of the party pushing around Jonathan's sister's dog, Winston, who was amazingly agreeable.
It's my birthday, I'm excited!
Mommy, Daddy, and me on my big day.
Usually they tell me not to stick my face into my food...
Okay, frosting is a very weird texture.
When I grow up, Claudia's gonna be my girlfriend.
Winston's a very cooperative doggie. I wonder if this will work on Simcha...
It's my birthday, I'm excited!
Mommy, Daddy, and me on my big day.
Usually they tell me not to stick my face into my food...
Okay, frosting is a very weird texture.
When I grow up, Claudia's gonna be my girlfriend.
You mean the wrapping paper isn't the gift?!
Winston's a very cooperative doggie. I wonder if this will work on Simcha...For more pictures of my birthday party (and aftermath at home, including the rocking horse from Mommy and Daddy), click here.
Deann and Justin gave me my very first car, and Daddy said that he felt like such a parent when he put it together for me. Check out my wheels!
Deann and Justin gave me my very first car, and Daddy said that he felt like such a parent when he put it together for me. Check out my wheels!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Cute daycare report from yesterday
"Xander had a good day. He enjoyed playing outside in the playhouse, swinging, climbing, digging in the sandbox, and taking two wagon rides around campus. He wasn't too interested in sliding down the slide. It may have scared him."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Happy birthday, Xander! And other cool stuff.
I can't believe our little boy is a year old already. How did that happen?! I brought in cupcakes to daycare today, so everyone could celebrate. We had a mini-party in the park on Saturday, too. One of our friends took most of the pictures, so as soon as she gives me the CD I'll post them with a narrative. Suffice it to say that Xander is very, very happy with some new toys, he stuffed lots of cake in his mouth, and he sat on everyone's lap at least once.
And this isn't birthday stuff, but I have to share two amazing things that took place at school. One: when I was in CA with Xander I missed out on a Talmud class. They went to the library with my friend the rare book librarian to look at Talmuds from the 1500s and up, and analyze their evolution. Well, I just got a private make-up session, with just myself, the prof, and the librarian! It was wonderful.
And two: after class on Monday one of my favorite profs and I were chatting about education, and I mentioned that one topic I love has never been offered in a class. I want to learn not the Talmud itself, but about its context: what was the Hellenistic world that formed the perspective of the rabbis? What did the Greeks and Romans think about the rabbis, what did they think about the Greeks and Romans, how did the surrounding culture influence the way they viewed philosophy, gender, class disparities, the calendar, Christianity, etc? He told me that I was right, a "world of the rabbis" course had never been offered before, but if I could drum up support for it, he would teach it. I immediately sent out an email to the student body asking who would be interested, and seven people wrote back. Early yesterday morning I emailed him this, he brought it up at a meeting with the deans yesterday afternoon, and today in class he told me that it was a go! The deans are supportive of the idea, and now he wants to meet with me privately to talk about my ideal curriculum and to decide if it's feasible for Fall 2010 or Spring 2011. I'm so excited, and it happened so fast, my head is still spinning.
And the third good thing of the day: Jonathan got home early from work! Hooray.
All in all: happy baby. Happy mommy. Happy daddy. Even the cats are purring.
And this isn't birthday stuff, but I have to share two amazing things that took place at school. One: when I was in CA with Xander I missed out on a Talmud class. They went to the library with my friend the rare book librarian to look at Talmuds from the 1500s and up, and analyze their evolution. Well, I just got a private make-up session, with just myself, the prof, and the librarian! It was wonderful.
And two: after class on Monday one of my favorite profs and I were chatting about education, and I mentioned that one topic I love has never been offered in a class. I want to learn not the Talmud itself, but about its context: what was the Hellenistic world that formed the perspective of the rabbis? What did the Greeks and Romans think about the rabbis, what did they think about the Greeks and Romans, how did the surrounding culture influence the way they viewed philosophy, gender, class disparities, the calendar, Christianity, etc? He told me that I was right, a "world of the rabbis" course had never been offered before, but if I could drum up support for it, he would teach it. I immediately sent out an email to the student body asking who would be interested, and seven people wrote back. Early yesterday morning I emailed him this, he brought it up at a meeting with the deans yesterday afternoon, and today in class he told me that it was a go! The deans are supportive of the idea, and now he wants to meet with me privately to talk about my ideal curriculum and to decide if it's feasible for Fall 2010 or Spring 2011. I'm so excited, and it happened so fast, my head is still spinning.
And the third good thing of the day: Jonathan got home early from work! Hooray.
All in all: happy baby. Happy mommy. Happy daddy. Even the cats are purring.
Monday, October 5, 2009
More kidlet items
Today we were looking at squirrels in the backyard.
Yay for bedtime! 
But after I kiss Daddy goodnight, I have to try just one last time to use his mouse...Have I mentioned that the past week he's been in bed every night by 8, and is only waking up once in the middle of the night? This would be glorious, except for the tiny niggling fact that on good nap days, he's wide awake by 6am. Today was one of those days. Arg.
Hosanna in the highest
This is a Christian/Catholic phrase praising God, and I remember hearing it said a lot during high school. I always wondered where it came from. And today I found out!
Hosanna derives from a Greek translation of the Hebrew "ho'she'ana," meaning, "save us, please" (hoshea=save, na=please). Ho'she'ana is a phrase that Jews say in the liturgy for Sukkot, the harvest festival, when we ask God to please send us rain in the winter months. But when it got over to the Greek, it became a phrase of praise rather than the original supplication. Interestingly enough, the shaking of palms on Easter also comes from Sukkot, where you shake the lulav branch during services. The Easter customs were based on a Greek conflation of the major holidays!
Of course, now I feel somewhat silly, because all of this is explained in the Jewish Encyclopedia here. Why do I only look these things up after I learn about them in class??
Hosanna derives from a Greek translation of the Hebrew "ho'she'ana," meaning, "save us, please" (hoshea=save, na=please). Ho'she'ana is a phrase that Jews say in the liturgy for Sukkot, the harvest festival, when we ask God to please send us rain in the winter months. But when it got over to the Greek, it became a phrase of praise rather than the original supplication. Interestingly enough, the shaking of palms on Easter also comes from Sukkot, where you shake the lulav branch during services. The Easter customs were based on a Greek conflation of the major holidays!
Of course, now I feel somewhat silly, because all of this is explained in the Jewish Encyclopedia here. Why do I only look these things up after I learn about them in class??
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Some cute pics
Going vrooom in the Target cart
Yay for the outdoors!
This is at the hotel at my pulpit in Indiana on Yom Kippur. He opened the drawer by himself and climbed right in, then started bouncing away and chattering to himself. Video will follow.
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