This and that...

Friday evening Josh and I, Cari and Mark and Michelle all went to the airport to welcome 4D home from China. We couldn't be happier for them! The pictures don't do Daphne justice, she is SO precious and beautiful up close.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures, they were taken with my phone. For some reason I keep forgetting my camera. Oops.

---

Saturday, as I was about to take a bath Deuce decided to join me. Before I got into the bath, he jumped onto the toilet seat, where he usually sits and waits for me to finish the bath. Anyways, he must have thought that the toilet seat was down, because he jumped right INTO the toilet. Poor wet, humiliated kitty...

---

In a few short hours we're heading to the airport for our trip to Vegas, bay-bee. Miss me. Miss me lots. Leave me stuff to read here, because lord knows I'm not going to catch up on the bajillion blog posts that you're all going to post in the time I'm gone. So sad, too bad. ;)

Make stuff up. I don't care...

---

Happy New Year to everyone!

What a weekend!

Josh and I had my family as well as Lisa, Craig and the girls over for dinner on Friday, and if I do say so myself, a good time was had by all.

Lisa had read this post just before leaving for our place and brought us two containers of Philadelphia cream cheese...you know, so I don't kill everyone at the table. Actually we ended up using the other brand, and as far as I know, everyone's still alive and well... ;)

After a fully belly-bursting, jean-button-popping dinner, we took a small break from eating and I brought the kids into the kitchen for a 'surprise'. I had made dreidel-shaped cookies and bought icing and had a little decorating station set up for the kidlets. It was HILARIOUS watching the kids put the icing on the cookies. S (who is, if you ask her "2.75 years old") was more interested in smiling for the camera than watching what was happening with the icing...as it glooped to the plate and counter. Some of it actually ended up on the cookie! I wouldn't have had it any other way...the kids had a blast and the adults were killing themselves laughing.

We also exchanged gifts for the kiddies, and Lisa and Craig got us a gift certificate for Boston Pizza (where else?) ;)

I had my nephew for the weekend and we had an amazing time. Friday night, after everyone left, we watched cartoons and then tucked him into bed.

Saturday morning was started off with chocolate chip and peanut butter pancakes...*drool*. Zachary did some research with Uncle Josh on his project for school. He's doing a write-up on king cobras, so the boys went to the library for some research, as well as doing some on the computer.

Saturday night we went to Josh's parents' house for dinner (it was Josh's dad's birthday). Zachary had a *blast* over there...especially playing every.single.note on the piano, both up the scale and down. I'm sure everyone's ears are still ringing from that. ;)

When we got home from dinner, I gave him two options - it was a loaded question. We could either sit on the couch and watch cartoons or we could all put on our pjs and snuggle in bed and watch them. Guess which one he chose? What a snuggly little boy he is.

Sunday was spent at the Canadian Air and Space Museum. We got some great picks of my nephew in the cockpit of a plane. He was enthralled with all the different planes and he read *everything* about each plane. His parents came by later in the afternoon to pick him up and we all went out for dinner.

This morning the house is just WAY too quiet...

Sayonara salmonella

Josh and I are planning a dinner party this Friday night for the last night of Channukah. We're having the family and Lisa, Craig and the girls over. Anyways, we like to get things done early, so we did our shopping earlier in the week.

Tonight, as Josh was reading the Canadian Jewish News, he stumbled over this article and tore down the stairs. Lo and behold, we had THAT cream cheese with THAT date and THAT UPC code. We nearly plotzed.

We packed up the disease-ridden cream cheese in question with the newspaper article and went back to the grocery store. We went to the customer service counter and told them about the cream cheese. The clerk looked at the article, looked at the cream cheese and was about to ring it up. Umm, we don't want to BUY it, we wanted to return it.

We asked to see the manager. The clerk didn't want to exchange the cream cheese we had and give us new ones because we didn't have the bill.

The manager ambled down the stairs and we re-told the story. She told us that she knew about the cream cheese and that the story was actually out a little while ago. She then looked at us and said "Did you buy it here?"

It was REALLY tempting to say "no, we're part of a great cream cheese conspiracy and we walk around from grocery store to grocery store trying to return rancid cream cheese. You're onto us, lady!"

We told her that we bought it there and she said "ok, straight exchange". Fine, great. The clerk took the original cream cheese from us and was going to put it back on the shelf. The manager told her "no, it has to be destroyed".

So we went back to the shelf to pick up our new cream cheese and guess what we saw? An entire shelf full of the 'bad' cream cheese. SAME cream cheese, SAME date, SAME UPC code. We went back to the counter and told them that it was still sitting there and asked to see the manager again. This time we had to wait a few minutes because she was on the phone.

She didn't come down the stairs and Josh actually ended up talking to her on the phone. Josh told her that it was still sitting on the shelf and that she would "deal with it shortly".

Well, that wasn't good enough. I mean, we don't want anyone getting sick because of the manager's apathy or laziness.

We found the manager in charge of stocking the shelves. We showed him the article and pointed out the entire shelf of cream cheese. He told us that "it was a new shipment" and that even though it has the same date, it's not the affected product. He understood our worry and said "instead of making excuses, I'm going to personally take all of them off the shelf and call the company in the morning".

As we were talking to him, wouldn't you know that a clerk walked by with the two affected cream cheeses (from our fridge) and placed them back on the shelf. Oh yes, he did.

We didn't take the second manager at his word, seeing as what just took place. We stood there and watched them remove ALL the cream cheese in question.

So, what do you like with your salmonella-laced cream cheese?

Monday morning mew

39 months

So today marks our 39 month LIDiversary, one shy of the big 4-0. Instead of focus on the negative and how long we've waited, I'm going to try to be positive about the wait from now on. (HA! I know how many times I've said that in the past, and failed, but this time I'm going to really see beyond what we've been through and look to the future).

I'm not going to lie and say that it hasn't been hard, but when I see my friends getting their kids and realizing that the CCAA are now starting April, I'm hoping that things speed up a little. What I'm really hoping for is that the Rumour Queen is right (ok, you can stop rolling your eyes) about her predictions, and that we'll see our referral in a year and a half. Perhaps I'm still being naive, even after all this time, but I have to believe that this interminable wait is going to end...at some point.

Anyways, enough of that. This month's charm was chosen by Josh's dad. Since he's a doctor, he chose the charm that definitely suits him the most...

3D is now 4D!

Please take a moment and go over and see this beautiful family and wish them congratulations! We couldn't be more thrilled for them.

Happy Channukah!

I think I prefer the Adam Sandler version, but this is just so...wrong, it's right. Give it a listen. ;)

To all of you, whether you celebrate the holiday or not, I wish you a happy and healthy Channukah!

50,000

At some point today or tomorrow, I'm going to pass the 50,000 mark on the blog. I find it hard to believe that in the past three and a half years (has it really been THAT long?!), since starting the blog, that I've had that many hits. That there are that many of you who like to be bored follow along with our adoption standstill journey.

Thanks everyone, and here's to the next 50,000. Hopefully I still won't be waiting at that point. ;)

How thoughtful!

I've been feeling rather down about the adoption, which doesn't seem to be going anywhere lately (which you can all attest to). For long-time readers of the blog, you'll probably notice my lack of posts *about* the adoption lately. As we're coming up to month 39 this Sunday, I've been feeling like this is never going to happen. (It probably will, but this is just how I've been feeling lately).

Anyways, today I received a truly thoughtful card and present in the mail from very good friends - that are currently in Shanghai and are about to receive their beautiful daughter in a few short days. I won't lie, a few tears were shed when I read the card...

Rhonda,

I saw this charm and thought of you. The two hearts reminded me of a hug. A hug between friends when times are rough. A hug between a mon & her child. Both have & will happen.

xo Doris

This charm is going on the bracelet today, and I'll be putting another charm on the bracelet on Sunday as well.

Doris, I can't thank you enough for the truly thoughtful gift. It means more than you know. I'm putting it right next to the daisy you sent me last December.

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies

1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup or brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and .

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add one peastoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who geeves a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner.

(Thanks Nic.) ;)

Monday morning mew

Is it just me, or is this the *perfect* picture to sum up my love/hate opinion of the RQ site? ;)

She just released her projections for the next few batches, and she's still standing by her thoughts that the CCAA are going to get to mid-May by April/May of 2010. I still don't see it...

March is done!

Finally!!! Even though our LID is in September, I breathed a sigh of relief this morning when I read that March is FINALLY complete.

Congrats to everyone who is about to get their referral!

Still looking to see how many more lurkers there are out there. If you're reading this, leave me a comment. I don't bite...hard.

Shaking the lurker tree...

...let's see who falls out. Leave me a comment if you're poking around here...

Not so humane after all...

Anyone who knows me, knows of my deep love of animals. Just over 11 years ago, we got Deuce from the Toronto Humane Society. Our experience in getting him, and our joy in having him, led me to a decision to support the society on a monthly basis since then.

You can imagine my outrage and extreme sadness this weekend when I read about the conditions at the Humane Society and the treatment (or lack of same) of the animals in their care. I'll link to a few stories, but be warned, some of the things you are going to read are quite atrocious.

They can be found here, here and here.

The final straw was in Saturday's paper when it mentioned that the donations would be used to defend the 'accused' who were arrested on charges of animal cruelty.

I tried to call the Humane Society a few times this morning to cancel my monthly donation, but nobody would pick up the phone. I decided that I would call my credit card company, and wouldn't you know it, when they called someone picked up and discussed the cancellation of my donation. I hate to do it because I know the animals still need help, but who would have thought they would need the most protection from those who were supposed to care for them?

Happy Thanksgiving...

...to everyone south of the border.

Awesomely awesome...

Monday morning mew

When we used to live in the apartment, I came home from work one day, and the same thing happened to me.

As my usual pattern, I went into the kitchen to see if we had any calls on our answering machine. I picked up the phone and all I heard was weird slurping sounds. I didn't know, at first, what to make of it and I hung up. I waited a few seconds and picked the receiver up again, and the same thing happened. It started to freak me out, I thought we had an obscene caller.

I hung up the phone again, and started walking around the apartment. I picked up another receiver and the same thing occurred. Weird, slurping sounds...but this time it was followed by a very distinctive, very satisfied purr.

Apparently we have a talented kitty. He had lifted the receiver from the cradle and was licking the phone...

---

On another Deuce-related note, he had his rabies shot and a general check-up yesterday and they actually gave him a report card. Everything checked out *really* well, but they want him back in January for a dental cleaning and another urinalysis. All seems to be going really well. He was extra-super-sucky yesterday and wouldn't leave our side, nor would he stop mewing for attention. He's such a little bum. :)

Just one of those days...

Exciting new venture!

My very good friend Lisa has started her own business! Please take a few minutes, go here and peruse her items!

She's selling hairclips, bows, tutus, and much, much more!

She's also got a selection of items for the holidays. Go look! What are you waiting for?

38 months

Josh decided to add this charm to the bracelet because of his love of cooking. In case you can't tell, it's supposed to be a chef's hat.

Last night I thought we were heading into month 39, not 38. How much does it suck that we've been at this so long that I'm starting to forget how long we've been waiting? Bleh.

Quality, value, service, trust - Part 4

...and the hits just keep coming.

I found this comment on the blog today and I thought I would share it with all of you (it's posted in the comment section of Part 1)...

Dear Rhonda,

It is disappointing to read about the service that you have received from Sears. It is our goal at Sears to not only meet but exceed our customer’s expectations and at this point we have not done this for you. My name is David and I work for the Sears Cares executive team and we would appreciate the opportunity to right this situation. At your convenience please contact my office via email at searscares@searshc.com so we can assist you in resolving this issue. Please provide a contact and the phone number the mattress was purchased under (if different than the contact) and we will call you at your convenience. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Thank you,

David V.
Senior Case Manager
Sears Cares

Off to send an email! Wish me luck, everyone...

I'll let you all know what happens, after the phone call. ;)

Quality, value, service, trust - Part 3

Yesterday afternoon Josh and I decided to go into the store to talk to the manager, we figured she could always try to 'dodge' us if we simply called.

She told me that the salesman would be talked to and not to promise anything like this again. Ok, fine. We went through the whole story of everything that went wrong, and she basically shook us off like an annoying fly on the wall and told us to call up customer complaints in the morning and that she was forwarding all her notes there...

About to explode, I turned around and left.

I called customer complaints this morning and spoke to an agent. She asked for my name and particulars, which I gave to her. She then said 'nothing about your situation is on my screen.' I replied '...and this is yet another element of the lack of service we received this weekend.' (At this point, I don't care what I say...)

She then said that she found the note(s) and she was just reading them. She said that the store is doing all it is prepared to do about the situation and they are dealing with it at the store level, by talking to the salesman.

I told this person that this was unacceptable and that we've spent a considerable amount of money there, since we've moved into the house. (I was trying to tell her that we're repeat, mostly satisfied customers, but she didn't want to hear it.) I told her that we would not be returning to Sears as a customer, and all she said was 'I'm sorry to hear that.'

Now here's the kicker...

I asked to speak to her supervisor, since I wasn't getting anywhere with this lady. She told me, and I quote, "We all speak for the president, so it doesn't matter who you talk to, you would get the same response."

I was waiting for her to say "resistance is futile"...

This afternoon I got the name and address of the Divisional V.P. of the Corporate Call Centre. It looks like he and I are going to be corresponding very shortly.

I'm not going away quietly...correction, I'm not going away. ;)

Nighty night

Quality, value, service, trust - Part 2

When last I posted, it was just shortly past 1:00 and SO much has occurred since.

I was promised by one of the people at Sears that the second crew would be arriving sometime between 2:00 and 5:00, and was asked if it was alright if they arrived early. While still angry about the situation, I agreed that this would be fine...especially about the 'early' part.

Midway through the afternoon, probably around 2:30, I called the store and asked if they had an ETA on when the guys would arrive. She said that they hadn't gotten to the store, but she was calling them "right now" and would get back to me. I let that go, and waited...and waited...and waited some more.

She finally got back to me around 3:15 and said that I would be receiving a call from the second team 'momentarily'. I got a call at 4:30 saying that they just got to the store and would be coming right away. My question is, if they weren't arriving until 4:30, then how could they promise me that "someone would be here between 2:00 and 5:00"?

Apparently our ideas of 'right away' are off base. The second team called me and said that since our order was 'an add on', we would be the last one of the evening. They said that it would definitely be after 6:00, probably closer to 7:00.

I called the store back and said it was unacceptable, and the clerk said, that she would see what she could do.

A third gentleman called back, Shazam, and said that he would be out as soon as he was finished his job in East York (roughly 45 minutes away), and if the other guys arrived first, so be it, but certainly someone would be arriving this evening.

I called the store back, spoke to the manager, for the 324237th time, just to let her know what was going on and that I was livid by the whole situation. Delivery of a bed should not require this much work.

5:00 passed. 6:00 passed. Finally at 6:30 the second team arrived and went into the bedroom to attach the bed frame to the headboard. Hallelujah!

They walked into the room, realized that they would have to drill new holes, and even though they had a drill in their hands, told me that they COULD NOT drill new holes. Apparently they aren't allowed to do so, there's just one guy who could do it, so they turned around and LEFT. Yes, that's right. They left.

I called the store back, AGAIN, and told them what was going on, and the manager told me that she would put in a 'special call' to Shazam and that she would TRY to get him out tonight, but if not, would tomorrow be ok? Seriously?

Ques'que fuck?!

I told her again that the mattress was in our hallway and the boxsprings were leaning against the armoire and that we didn't have a bed tonight. At that, she said (are you sitting down for this?) "Can't you put the boxsprings on the frame and the mattress on top?"

Yes, of course we COULD, but that's not the point. It's the principle of the matter. We paid for service, and damn it, we were going to get it come hell or high water.

She sighed and said that she would call Shazam and 'see what she could do'.

No more than five minutes passed when Shazam called back and said that he would be arriving as soon as he left his job in East York.

7:15 rolled around and finally, by the grace of all things holy, Shazam walked through the door. He walked up to the bedroom and he couldn't believe all that we had been through. He asked why none of the other crews did their jobs, and honestly his guess is as good as mine.

He looked at the bedframe and said 'it's been put in backwards and you're missing the supports!' He looked in the box and found them, and said that the guys who originally put the frame together (around noon), totally screwed up and actually put the wheels on backwards as well. He looked at the shape of the frame and said that it was all askew. The top width measured 74 inches and the bottom was 76 inches. Yeah, I'd say that's askew.

Shazam and his sidekick, the boy wonder (AKA Kato), took apart the frame, put it together properly and drilled new holes in the frame and attached everything properly.

He turned to me and said 'how hard was that? Why didn't anyone do this properly the first time?' He had a few, more harsh words about Sears, but they're not quite fit for print. ;)

All in all, it was a REALLY stressful day. More stress than should be involved in a simple purchase and delivery of a mattress and boxspring.

On the last call to the manager of the store, I told her that I wanted to talk about doing something with the bill. She told me that "we'll talk about it tomorrow, after everything has been set up". I think she basically wants me to 'sleep on it' and cool off by morning. HA! She doesn't know me at all...

Believe me, I'm SO calling her in the morning...I'll let you know what happens.

So, all in all, our day and our sanity was saved...by Captain Marvel.

SHAZAM!

Quality, value, service, trust - Part 1

A couple of weeks ago, Josh and I went into our local Sears store to buy a mattress, boxspring and frame. Pretty simple, right? We were told that because of health and safety regulations, that we would have to put the mattresses in bags (which they supplied). Not a big deal, or so we thought.

Well, this morning we knew everything would be delivered, so we woke up early to start packing things up. We unfolded the mattress bag and realized that it was too small. I asked Josh to call the store to make sure that they sent us the right bag. They confirmed that they did, but before sending him to the store, we measured the mattress, then the bag. He called the store, and after being transferred from person to person, he was told that our mattress was too big for the bag.

Umm, we've already established that.

They told Josh that since the boxsprings would fit in the bags, that we should package those up and if the deliverymen didn't take the unbagged mattress, that they would send out someone to take it. To me, that seems like an unncessary level of bureaucracy, but whatever.

Fast forward to noon.

The guys got here, took away the boxsprings and stared at the mattress and we had to go through the whole story with them about the mattress being too small for the bags. They decided to take the mattress, which was fine.

Then they saw that the frame was still attached to the headboard and told us that WE had to disassemble that as well. We told the deliverymen that we weren't told anything about the frame being disassembled. We also told them that the salesman said that the guys would attach the frame to the headboard.

We started disassembling the frame from the headboard, and the frame itself, when the deliverymen said that they would have to call dispatch. About five minutes later we got a call from their dispatch saying that the guys would have to move on to their next delivery.

Wow. Nice customer service.

I called up the store and complained. The woman I spoke to said that they would be sending someone out to attach the frame to the headboard later today. Great, but still just an extra level of stress and annoyance that we don't need.

We were almost finished disassembling everything at that point. I sent Josh outside to get the guys (before they drove off), and said that everything was taken apart. They came back up, put the frame together, put the new mattress in the hall and the new boxsprings in the bedroom...and left.

As soon as they left, I called up the store to complain about how we were treated (the guys were VERY rude as well). She said that she would be sending someone out A.S.A.P. to attach the headboard to the frame, and asked if sometime between 3:00pm and 6:00pm was ok. Fine, whatever.

As I was walking up the stairs, I noticed that there's a HUGE gash (26 inches...I measured), and called the store again. I was told by the person at customer service that "I'm with a customer right now, but I'll call you right back".

I totally lost my shit with her.

I replied "what am I? I'm a customer. I'm a very angry customer." I'm so pissed off right now about the whole situation.

I just got a call back from the store, and she apologized for what happened and replied "The service you get at Sears, you'll never get at any other store." She SO walked into that, and I went off again and said "I would hope I wouldn't get this service at another store, I would hope it's better."

Now I'm waiting for a call back from the store manager, I'll let you all know what happens next. ;)

(The title of the post refers to Sears slogan that's plastered all over our bill of sale. HA!)

Canadian, eh?

Happy 40th Sesame Street...

In honour of Sesame Street's 40th birthday, I thought I'd post this. I think I've done it before, but it's THAT good that it bears repeating.

Just so you know...

Congratulations!

Please go and congratulate Catherine and Hannah! She finally received her precious daughter this morning. We couldn't be happier for you, my friend!

Happy Hallowe'en!

When monkeys fly outta my ass...part two

In honour of the monkeys flying out of my ass post, my friend Sam made this picture for me.

Enjoy!

Check this out...

...amazing isn't strong enough a word.

It really is...

When monkeys fly outta my ass...

This one's for Michelle.

Perhaps I'm feeling more cynical than usual, but I was reading the Humour Spleen yesterday and she was mentioning that worst case scenario they would get to May 8th by the February/March batch. Really? I'd LOVE to believe this, and I'd love for it to be true, but I've been burnt SO many times along this journey (as we all have). I just can't see it happening.

The Humour Spleen amuses me. Even though she says that she doesn't censor comments, mine was yesterday. It sat waiting for approval, but today it just...vanished. I'm heartbroken (not). In case you were wondering, I had the gall to question why she bothers posting the 'mid' and 'good' case scenarios anymore. ;)

Apparently it's naughty to question the Spleen, but I digress...

So yes, boy and girls if they get to May by February/March, I will post pictures of actual monkeys flying outta my ass. :)

URBS!

This is a message from the Urgent Referral Broadcast System!

Doris and Dan received their referral information this morning! Please go and congratulate this very happy mom and dad!

We couldn't be happier for you, my friends!

37 months

Today marks 37 months of waiting. 37 months of hoping.

I added a charm to the bracelet that Josh chose for Little Maple.

This charm is two-fold. He hopes that little one will have the same love of travel that he has...and he wants to give her the world.

I had to include pictures of a gift that my good friend Lisa gave us not too long ago. Trust me, the box was more full than this before I took the picture...and several lollipops lost their lives today. Oops.

Before and after...

For the past two weeks we've been undergoing a renovation of our yard. When we moved into the house, just over two years ago, the interlocking bricks always caused us a problem. As you can see from the pictures below, the wood that surrounded the interlocking bricks was higher than the bricks themselves (or more specifically, the bricks dropped over time). The problem with that was that we would have a "swimming pool" effect whenever it would rain. That whole area would fill up with water.

The other, more serious, problem was that the entire backyard was graded *towards* the house, not away from it. So when we would get a heavy rain, the water had nowhere to go except towards our house and some water would make its way into the basement. Lovely.

So this year we decided to fix the problem. Excuse the massive weeds in the pictures, we stopped looking after the bricks when we decided to go ahead with the project. ;)














































Now for the 'after' pictures - this was all done in nine days.

Ignore the dead grass in the pictures, the guys were going back and forth over the grass with their wheelbarrow and flattened it. Not to mention the 18 days of no rain...

Too bad the guys don't have a website because:

(a) I would link to them
(b) I would recommend them to anyone

Jewish Haikus

Lacking fins or tail
The gefilte fish swims with
Great difficulty.

Beyond valium,
Peace is knowing one's child
Is an internist.

On Passover we
Opened the door for Elijah
Now our cat is gone.

After the warm rain
The sweet smell of camellias
Did you wipe your feet?

Her lips near my ear,
Aunt Sadie whispers the name
Of her friend's disease.

Today I am a man.
Tomorrow I will return
To the seventh grade.

Testing the warm milk
On her wrist, she sighs softly.
But her son is forty.

The sparkling blue sea
Reminds me to wait an hour
After my sandwich.

Like a bonsai tree,
Is your terrible posture
At my dinner table.

Jews on safari --
Map, compass, elephant gun,
Hard sucking candies.

The same kimono
The top geishas are wearing:
I got it at Loehmann's.

Mom, please! There is no
Need to put that dinner roll
In your pocketbook.

Seven-foot Jews in
The NBA slam-dunking!
My alarm clock rings ..

Sorry I’m not home
To take your call. At the tone
Please state your bad news.

Is one Nobel Prize
So much to ask from a child
After all I’ve done?

Today, mild schvitzing.
Tomorrow, so hot you'll plotz.
Five-day forecast: feh

Yenta, Shmeer, Gevalt,
Shlemiel, Shlimazl, Meshuganah
Oy! To be fluent!

Quietly murmured
At Saturday synagogue services,
Yanks 3, Red Sox 5.

A lovely nose ring,
Excuse me while I put my
Head in the oven.

Hard to tell,
White yarmulke or
Male-pattern baldness

L'shana tova

Wishing everyone a very sweet and happy new year!

Tell me a story...

...it doesn't have to be true, just entertaining. :P

Nobody puts baby in the corner...

RIP Patrick Swayze.

This...is...awesome!

Three years...

This month starts my third (and final) bracelet. I chose this charm as it corresponded with our three year LIDiversary, and what is more fitting than a cake with three candles in it? I *had* to get it, didn't I? ;)




We've both been feeling down as we approached our three year LIDiversary and we knew we didn't want to be alone, so we invited some of our very good friends Lisa and Craig and Mark and Michelle over for veggie matzah lasagna, salmon and (what else) cake. Mmmm. (Those that weren't able to come here tonight were dearly missed.)

The day was made all the sweeter when we were able to Skype and talk to Nic, Tim and Zubin, though Zubin really didn't want any of it. ;)

Some of the highlights of the evening were when Sienna told everyone that she's "two point five" years old. How cute is that? Drinking "Golden Flow" orange juice...tasty. Having a wonderful time with wonderful people who feel more like family than friends.

I don't think we could have made it through the last three years of this interminable wait without all of you, both near and far.

The funny thing is, Josh never wanted me to start a blog in the first place. I can't imagine going through this wait without the incredibly strong friendships we've made because of it...or how crazy we'd be without it.

Thanks to Red Sand for tweaking the image so I could put it on our LIDiversary cake.

9/9/09

Just because...

...Josh came home with three dozen roses. *sigh*