April 01, 2007
Early Passover
We decided to have Passover a day early this year (because it was a lot easier to cook for a Sunday afternoon than a Monday after work). We had Suzanne, Michael, Laura, Elise, Jess (who works with Michael), and Wonsook and WAY too much food. We bought ourselves a new dining room table last weekend at Ikea and it expands to seat about 10 people. We used the hagaddah I had written back in 2001 (and had always meant to revise, but still haven't gotten around to doing).
I dug my Hagaddah collection out of storage for the occasion
The table
Shachar made lamb, asparagus, yams, zucchini stuffed with rice and salmon and various other things. I made matzah ball soup, chocolate toffee matzah, Manishevitz marble cake, and three different kinds of charosets.
March 21, 2007
Happy Birthday Shachar!
Happy birthday today to Shachar!!!
Dinner out for his birthday:
March 20, 2007
Happy Birthday Shimon
Happy birthday today to Shachar's dad!
February 28, 2007
Happy Birthday Aunt Susan!
Happy birthday today to Aunt Susan!
February 21, 2007
Happy Birthday Katy and Mark
Happy birthday today to Katy and Mark!
February 19, 2007
Happy Birthday Albert!
Happy first birthday today to Albert!
Hanna sent along this photo last week of Mom, Bill and Betty visiting Albert in London.
February 16, 2007
Baby Zoe
Just back from the funeral and found that Mom has sent along happier family news -- Aunt Edy had emailed her with news that cousin Jody had given birth to a valentine's baby named Zoe!
February 14, 2007
February 11, 2007
Happy Birthday Dad!
Happy birthday today to my Dad, who, as of the latest report, is almost done with their major kitchen renovations and should be ready to move back into their new place at the end of the month.
February 10, 2007
Happy Birthday Karen!
Happy birthday today to my sister-in-law Karen!
Pictured here with her three neices
December 31, 2006
Happy Birthday John and Happy New Year!
Happy birthday today to John C -- and happy New Year's eve everyone!
December 27, 2006
December 26, 2006
Happy Birthday to Me!
32!
It was a lovely birthday -- I got to sleep in, had happy birthday sung to me in three languages (English, Hebrew and Welsch) and cake for breakfast. Then we went out and about touring the countryside, are home now resting and reading email, and then will have a day-after-Christmas-duck-dinner.
I got a pony for my birthday! Or at least a wild one came right up to the car to say happy birthday -- and of course there were the many (spraypainted)
sheep...
Lots of gorgeous countryside
We also went to a national park area with the British Slate Museum (it was closed, but had lovely grounds with the quarries)
December 18, 2006
Happy Hanukkah, Night 4
And happy hanukkah yet again! 
(this may be the last of the different menorahs -- we have 2 more but they take birthday candles and I'm not sure if I know where ours are currently so we may repeat the 4 we have already shown for the next few nights)
In other news, for those of you who have been asking, we got the requisite travel document that we needed today in the mail (not that we weren't going on our trip anyway, but this makes it feel quite a bit less risky.)
December 17, 2006
Happy Hanukkah, Night 3
Happy Hanukkah (again) Tonight we had pizza with our candles (we should be putting our sink back in tomorrow after they do the countertop measurements) and, in keeping with this being a festival of lights, finally added some funky track lighting to the living room so one can actually have enough light to read by when sitting on the couch.
December 16, 2006
Hanukkah, Night 2
Happy second night of Hanukkah!
Since we currently don't have a kitchen sink (long story involving new countertops when we get back from our trip), we used the excuse to head out to dinner at CreAsian, a great "creative Asian" restaurant in town -- and they even had something approximating latkes ("Japanese vegetable potato cakes")!
December 15, 2006
Happy Hanukkah!
Its the first night of Hanukkah, so of course we made jelly donuts again (a tradition that I am more than happy to adopt from S's family). We now have a whole collection of menorahs, and tonight we used the bird one (one of my favorites) and its sitting on a lovely glass drip plate that Mom sent (check out the dreidel legs on it!)
The donut making process (I'd share the recipe, but have no idea what it says):
And a random cat photo:
December 14, 2006
December 12, 2006
Happy Birthday Seth
Happy birthday today to Seth (who turns 4!) and who had the coolest of pirate birthday cakes...
December 11, 2006
Happy Birthday Brian!
Happy birthday today to my brother Brian -- and best of luck with his new job which starts today!
Happy birthday to Ilona today as well!
November 27, 2006
Happy Anniversary Mom & Bill
Happy 12th Anniversary to Mom and Bill!
(The 12th anniversary gift is traditionally silk or linens, or on the modern lists pearls or jade. The appropriate flower is apparently Peonies.) 
November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you're all having a lovely day with lots of turkey!
November 20, 2006
Happy Birthday Aimee
Happy birthday today to Aimee who is off having all sorts of adventures with her family in Basel Switzerland/
November 11, 2006
Happy Birthday Brooke
Happy birthday today to my cousin Brooke!
Welcome Scooter!
My cousin Jennifer and her husband Matt have a new baby -- Scooter! (really!)
(I'm definitely going to have to find a muppet-themed baby gift!)
October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween!
I love Halloween!
7pm update: 9 trick-or-treaters so far (2 cats, 1 batman, 1 pirate, 1 superman, and a few I wasn't sure about)
almost 8pm: 4 more since the last update (another pirate, a cat, and 2 others that were hard to decipher...)
One parent suggested that we might be celebrating the wrong holiday here...
October 29, 2006
Happy Birthday Liz
Happy 21st birthday today to Liz! Woohoo!!
October 25, 2006
Happy Birthday Susan
Happy birthday Susan, who I miss working with so much!!
October 22, 2006
Happy birthdays to BobbiLynn and Alan
Happy birthday today to BobbiLynn and Alan!
October 21, 2006
Happy 97th Birthday
Happy 97th birthday today to my grandmother in Pittsburgh!
October 19, 2006
Happy Anniversary Brian and Karen!
Happy Anniversary to Brian and Karen (flashback to 2003 wedding photos) I finally got to see the super amazing wedding video that Hanna had put together when I was in Westport a few weeks ago.
Happy anniversary to cousins Jenn & Matt as well!
And a Happy birthday today to uncle Jonathan.
October 18, 2006
October 16, 2006
Happy Birthday Hanna!
Happy birthday Hanna -- who, if everything goes as planned, we'll actually get to go and visit in December. Yay!!!
Happy Birthday Hanna!
Happy birthday Hanna -- who, if everything goes as planned, we'll actually get to go and visit in December. Yay!!!
October 05, 2006
Happy Birthday Eduard!
Happy birthday today to Eduard!
and happy birthday to Peter and Steve!
October 02, 2006
Yom Kippur
Sunset tonight, BTW, is 6:48 PM here.
To entertain you in the meantime: Bad Attitude on Yom Kippur
September 24, 2006
Happy Birthday Mom
Happy birthday today to Mom, who is busy at the 3rd annual Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance.
Some pre-coverage of the concours (with the usual misspelling...)
Fairfield County Concours d' Elegance a...Car show guarantees to Rev your motor
According to Bill Sheffler, one of the founders of the third annual Fairfield County Concours d' Elegance, they don't make cars like they used to.
Hence, the reason why Sheffler, John Shuck and Dan Long, all of Westport, organized the Concours Sunday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Veteran's Green across the street from Town Hall on Myrtle Avenue.
September 23, 2006
Happy Birthday Jane, Barbi and Greg!
Sept 23 is always a big birthday day -- happy birthday today to Jane, to Aunt Barbi and to Greg!
September 22, 2006
Happy Rosh Hashanah
L'shana tova! I'm off to the local grange hall (?) to see what our local congregation is like for tonight's Erev Rosh Hashanah service.
But I've already gotten a head start on starting off my new year very sweetly with some divine rugelach that Mom and Bill sent. Thank you!!!
(the goal will be to have some still sitting there when Shachar gets home tomorrow night...)
(Though I don't think anything will ever top the great video greeting we got last year!)
Best wishes to all of you for a sweet and happy new year!
September 13, 2006
Happy birthday Grandpa!
Happy 93rd birthday today to my grandfather!
Update: Mom sent along these great photos:
mmm... oreo cookie ice cream cake and a visit from the head of the local library! sounds like a pretty good birthday...
September 08, 2006
Happy Birthday EMY!!!
Eek -- Thank you to Emy for the subtle comment that I had forgotten that today is in fact her birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMY!
mmm... Kirspy Kremes for breakfast sounds like a great way to celebrate!
August 31, 2006
August 17, 2006
Happy Birthday Darren
Happy birthday today to Darren!
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, September 12th.
The cast of MTV's Fast, Inc. just sent out a great endorsement email about him.
August 01, 2006
Happy Birthday John
Happy birthday today to John (in S's office). Trish and I both sent along cakes for the occassion.
July 21, 2006
Happy Birthday Maria
Happy birthday today to Maria! Here she is at my wedding (along with Katy and Meag)
July 04, 2006
Happy Fourth of July!
Fantastic parade all around Morgan Hill this morning. Here are some of the floats and cars and things... we had great seats in front of the library (since we had left our chairs out last night) so had a great view.
June 18, 2006
June 15, 2006
Happy Birthday Phil!
Happy Birthday today to Phil! Here's a photo of him and his family at our wedding:
(along with Mike and Greg too)
June 05, 2006
June 01, 2006
Happy Shavuot
Happy Shavuot today -- a holiday celebrating the harvest season in Israel. Shavuot, which means "weeks", refers to the timing of the festival which is held exactly 7 weeks after Passover.
Some information (since I certainly had to look up this one)
Shavuot on the Net
Wikipedia entry
Torah Tots
Apparently one celebrates by eating lots of dairy foods -- ice cream, cheesecake, cheese-filled blintzes, etc. Mmm.
May 28, 2006
Happy Birthday Betty!
Happy birthday today to my sister Betty!
May 14, 2006
May 10, 2006
Happy Birthday Uncle Doug
Happy birthday to Uncle Doug, and happy anniversary to Doug and Barbi!
May 01, 2006
Happy Birthday Shulamit
Happy birthday today to Shachar's mom in Israel (where it starting being her birthday way before it hit here in CA). Yom Huledet Same'ach!
April 28, 2006
April 21, 2006
Congrats to David and Sandy!
I just heard the news that my cousin David got engaged to his lovely girlfriend Sandy who we just recently met at our wedding. Congrats to them both! Yay!
April 19, 2006
Happy Birthday Heather!
Happy birthday to Heather, part of the pre-wedding cookie baking team and Director of Health Education and Promotion at Emory these days!
April 12, 2006
Matzo Man
Passover starts tonight -- we're heading to Seder at Margaret and Alan's (with my chocolate toffee matzah of course -- made in the toaster oven since we still don't have our real oven, which now seems to require an electrician as well as sawing through the cabinet). Jane sent along this cute flash piece called Matzo Man to get us in the mood.
March 29, 2006
Welcome Annika!
Congrats to Bobbi Lynn and Glen on the arrival of baby girl Annika! Yay!!!!!
March 25, 2006
Welcome Zayne
Congratulations to Mike, Jen and now big-brother Arden on the birth of baby Zayne yesterday! I'm so glad that they all made it to the wedding so we got to see everyone!
March 21, 2006
Happy Birthday Shachar!
And today is Shachar's birthday! We're here in Arizona for a couple of days. He let me sleep in today and planned the day's activities so we're off for a horse ride/4-wheel drive/dinner combo activity.
Update: Horse back riding got rained out until the next day but was a lot of fun. We even tried our hand at skeet shooting (not something I excel at, but I was half way decent with a lasso and a pistol)
March 20, 2006
Happy Birthday Shimon
Happy birthday today to Shachar's father Shimon. We just had breakfast at the hotel with him and Riki and Yossi before everyone heads off in different directions later today.
Yossi and Shimon playing chess at the hotel
Shachar and his sister Riki
March 14, 2006
Happy Purim
Took a break from all the wedding errands today to make hamentaschen for Purim! Happy Purim everyone!
March 08, 2006
International Women's Day
Happy International Women's Day
"International Women's Day is the universal day that connects all women around the world and inspires them to achieve their full potential. IWD 2006 launches another year of working progressively for women's equality worldwide. It is an important day around the world because the collective power of women is witnessed by milions, and the brave achievements of women past, present and future are respectfully honoured. International Women's Day 2006 will be celebrated globally on Wednesday 8 March."
February 28, 2006
Welcome Albert!
Luckily Brian pointed out that I had missed this message -- congratulation to Hanna and John on the arrival of Albert John Schwartz on Sunday night, February 19th!!! Yay!!!!
Happy Birthday Aunt Susan
Happy birthday today to Aunt Susan!
February 21, 2006
Happy Birthday Mark and Katy!
Feb 21st was always a big day for my gang of friends in high school -- two of my favorite people shared a birthday! Happy birthday to Katy and Mark!
February 14, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day to you!!
Heather sent this informative Healthy Valentine link.
And today's word of the day is spoony meaning "Foolishly or sentimentally in love" -- a perfect Valentine word for my chocolatespoon site!
February 13, 2006
Happy Birthday Len
Happy birthday today to Bill's Dad who is turning 96 today! And who still puts us all to shame by working out a couple of times each week at the Y.
February 12, 2006
Happy Tu B'Shevat
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, is a holiday known as the "New Year for Trees." (Jewish Year 5766: sunset February 12, 2006 - nightfall February 13, 2006) Apparently there are few customs or observances related to this holiday. One custom is to eat a new fruit (or dried fruit I guess) on this day, usually we think of planting trees.
It is a time to celebrate the beginning of new growth and the change of the seasons. Although it generally falls in January or February, in Israel this is the time when the first signs of spring are seen in the blossoming of the almond trees (its springy here too...)
Anyway, happy tu b'shevat!
February 11, 2006
Happy birthday today to my Dad!!February 10, 2006
Happy Birthday Karen!
Happy birthday today to my sister-in-law Karen!
February 08, 2006
Happy Birthday Janete!
Today's my office-mate's birthday. Happy birthday Janete!
February 02, 2006
Happy Groundhog Day
Punxsutawney Groundhog Sees His Shadow (official site)
though apparently Steeler fans stole the show (for the record, GO SEAHAWKS)
Apparently Punxsutawney Phil over the last 119 years has seen his shadow 96 times and missed it 14 times. There are no records for 9 years.
There's a video, but forever more coverage of the event will seem like a scene from the movie and there was a live webcast.
January 25, 2006
Francesca
Congratulations to Ellen and Chris and a very special welcome to Francesca, born January 21st!
January 01, 2006
December 27, 2005
Happy Birthday Bill
Happy birthday today to Bill! So we're all celebrating today... in Hawaii! Yay!
December 26, 2005
Hanukkah 2 and Birthday Dinner
Mom and Bill are in town, and we all met up with Margaret and Alan for a birthday dinner at Left Bank, a fun French bistro with excellent french fries.
and thank you to everyone who called with birthday wishes!
December 25, 2005
Happy Hanukkah
Its the first night of hanukkah so we celebrated with latkes and jelly donuts (and a barbeque?)
yes, I have hanukkah finger puppets (which should surprise no one who saw my Passover ones...) thanks Mom.
latkes cooking in our new killer electric frying pan (a hanukkah present for S)
and, of course, there's the fun Hanukkah Rap we all passed around last year. The line about Oy being Yo backwards still cracks me up.
And Merry Christmas to the rest of you!
December 21, 2005
Happy Winter
Happy first day of winter. Apparently, the winter of 2005/2006 will start on the 21st of December, 2005, at 1:35 PM EST. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Solstice rites are one of the oldest celebrations, dating back to the dawn of modern civilization some 30,000 years ago. Winter solstice observances were held by virtually every culture in the world. Solstice rites were practiced among such diverse groups as Native South Americans, Celts, Persians, Orientals, and Africans.
Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.
"Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Yule, we can all delight in the season as a time to renew family ties, take joy in our natural environment, reflect on the events of the old year, and look forward in anticipation to the new. As the winter solstice demonstrates to us, every ending is a new beginning." Lisa Hutchins
December 11, 2005
Distant Cousin
A very distant cousin of mine is in the Times Weddings today! The bride's maternal great-grandfather Maurice, was the younger brother of my maternal great-grandfather Aaron.
Happy Birthday Brian and Ilona
Happy birthday today to my brother Brian and to Ilona!
December 10, 2005
Susanne and Michael
Congrats to Susanne and Michael on their wedding!
November 27, 2005
November 23, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving (a bit early) everyone! I'm signing off for a few days offline -- no work, no email... heck, not even any electricity [my office mate says: "ack, do you think you'll be able to handle that?"]
S and I will be down in Joshua Tree National Park for my first camping experience in probably about 22 years. If I'm not back posting by Sunday, send the park rangers...
November 22, 2005
November 21, 2005
New Baby cousin!
Congratulations to my cousin Aaron and his wife Cyndi on their new baby girl, Sarah Michelle (I wonder if they'll let us call her Buffy?)
And we'll be there to visit in just two weeks!
November 12, 2005
Happy Birthday Brooke
Happy Birthday to my cousin Brooke (I think it's today). Hope the college application process is going well...
October 25, 2005
Happy Birthday Susan
Woohoo! It's Susan's birthday (hi Susan)
October 22, 2005
Happy Birthday BobbiLynn and Alan!
Some more October birthdays! Happy birthday to the lovely BobbiLynn and my most excellent cousin Alan of Hay in Art fame.
October 21, 2005
Happy 96th Birthday
Happy 96th birthday today to my grandmother!!
October 19, 2005
2 Anniversaries and a Birthday
Happy anniversaries to Brian & Karen and Jen & Matt today, and happy birthday today to my uncle Jonathan!
October 18, 2005
October 17, 2005
Happy Sukkot
Tonight (at sundown) is the start of Sukkot, a fun festive holiday involving huts (sukkah) and harvests. Apparently one is supposed to build and live in a sukkah for seven days, but I think we'll just have dinner in ours. Ideally, we're supposed to invite other people to celebrate under our Sukkot too, so consider yourselves all invited (though I'll understand if you don't want to join in). I'll post pictures later...
Update: here are some photos of our Sukkah. Turns out its really hard to take pictures from inside of it. And I think I may have the world's only winnie-the-pooh sukkah ;)
October 05, 2005
Happy Birthday Eduard and Peter.
Happy birthday (a big one!!) to Eduard (another voter!) And happy birthday to Peter.
Update: turns out it's Steve C's birthday today too! (interesting that in two of my work teams there are a bunch of women and one guy, and both of those guys have birthdays today!)
October 03, 2005
Shana Tova
Happy New Year! It's now 5766 (or will be after sunset tonight)
Listen to the shofar (via TorahTots) : Tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; Shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone; and Teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds.
S made yummy honey cakes yesterday while I was at work, and we stocked up on apples and honey (for a sweet New Year). We had beet soup for dinner last night (apparently, "Beets are called "Salka" in Aramaic, and in Hebrew, that word is related to removal. We recite, "May our enemies be removed." Notice we don't say destroy - we just want them to go away, elsewhere, bye-bye.") and pomegranates for brunch on Saturday (something about there being 613 commandments and each individual pomegranate supposedly has 613 seeds) I'd still like to find a round challah. We even had fish for dinner (though S kindly cut the head off of mine -- you're supposed to each from the head to the tail or something). Rosh Hashana means, literally, "head of the year" (We covered the word "rosh" in my beginner Hebrew class yesterday)
Shana Tova!
(a great collection of Rosh HaShana web sites)
September 27, 2005
Shofar Idol
S found this link and sent it along to help us all get ready for Rosh Hashanah (next week)
And, in case you were wondering, services are:
Monday, October 3
Erev Rosh HaShanah Service 8:00 pm
Tuesday, October 4
Rosh HaShanah Morning Service 10:00 am
(though I may not get to that one)
September 24, 2005
Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy birthday today to Mom!
Update: Photos from Mom's birthday:
The saleslady at Chico's sang Happy Birthday in the store:
Dinner at Splash:
And then cake at home:
September 23, 2005
Happy Birthday to Jane, Barbi and Greg
Multiple birthdays today -- we're on our way up to Boston now to meet up with Dad & Jane for Jane's birthday, and happy birthday today too to Aunt Barbi and to Greg!
Update: photos from Jane's birthday dinner at the Rialto restaurant at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square
September 13, 2005
Happy Birthday Grandpa!
Today's my grandfather's 92nd birthday! I'm looking forward to getting to see him on Saturday!
Update: photos from Mom of Grandpa's birthday
Check out his cool library hat! (and Uncle Doug's new mustache?!?!)
Update #2: Nice mention on Westport Now
August 31, 2005
Happy Birthday Paul S.
Happy Birthday today to Paul S.!
(I don't think I've ever had two friends named Paul before to need to differentiate like that).
Of course I completely forgot to wish him a happy birthday when he stopped by the library last night...
August 26, 2005
Women's Equality Day
Happy Women's Equality Day -- the 85th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage!
On Women's Equality Day in the U.S., NOW Advocates for Iraqi Women's Rights
By Popular Demand: "Votes for Women" Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
August 25, 2005
Happy Anniversary Dad & Jane
Points go to Brian who reminded me that today is Dad & Jane's anniversary. Happy Anniversary to them! S and I are looking forward to visiting them (and the new Seattle library at long last) next week!
August 17, 2005
Welcome Fiona!
Seth's now a big brother! Congrats to Paul & Aimee!
August 03, 2005
Happy Anniversary Heather & Jared
Happy Anniversary to Heather & Jared!
August 02, 2005
Happy Birthday Jake and Tess!
Happy first birthday today to Jake and Tess! Wow! I can't believe they're a year old already!
July 29, 2005
Welcome Gus!
Congrats to Danielle & Ben on the arrival of baby Gus! Happy Aunt-hood Hanna!!
July 27, 2005
July 21, 2005
June 29, 2005
Happy Birthday Rika!
Today is Rika's birthday! Happy birthday!!
June 21, 2005
Welcome Dana
Congrats to Laura & Terrill and welcome to our newest knitting pal, baby Dana!
June 19, 2005
Happy Father's Day!
Happy father's day to Dad, Bill, my future father-in-law Shimon and to any of the rest of you who are dads!
June 15, 2005
June 05, 2005
May 28, 2005
Happy Birthday Betty
Happy birthday today to my sister Betty!!
May 10, 2005
Happy Birthday Uncle Doug
Happy birthday today to Uncle Doug... and happy anniversary to Uncle Doug and Aunt Barbi!
May 08, 2005
April 28, 2005
Happy Birthday Carrie!
Happy Birthday today to Carrie! If she were here, I'd try to bake her a suitable-for-passover cake.
April 19, 2005
Happy Birthday Heather!
Happy birthday today to Heather!!
April 15, 2005
Happy Birthday Janine
Happy birthday today to my former officemate Janine (I told her I always think about her on tax day, but that didn't sound quite right).
She updated me on some of our old NMP pals, and I learned that my other officemate Jenny is now working on Garage Takeover (which I'll have to go Tivo). I found a photo of her here on the site of one of the participants.
March 25, 2005
Happy Purim!
Happy Purim! As I was explaining to someone last night, you can't go wrong with a holiday where you're supposed to dress up as a queen and eat cookies. (of course, sadly I ate all my hamentaschen earlier in the week).
You can take a Purim Quiz here (I only got 9 out of the 12, some of them are hard!) or play the Bajillion Dollars Question Game (I got 1000 points, beating Jono and Gefilte Fish)
March 21, 2005
Happy Birthday Shachar!
A very happy birthday today to Shachar!
March 08, 2005
International Women's Day
Karen reminded me with an email this morning that today is International Women's Day, and sent along this nice write-up:
Happy International Women's Day! Celebrate yourselves and the women in your lives.
(Excerpted from the UN Web site)
International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.
The year 2005 is critical for energizing efforts to put gender equality at the top of the international peace and development agenda. In recognition of this pivotal year, the theme for International Women's Day 8 March 2005 is Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future. The theme recognizes the close relationship between gender equality, security and development and stresses reducing poverty, protecting human rights and investing in sustainable development as keys to empowering women. The theme emphasizes that pursuing the goal of gender equality is integral to building a more secure and sustainable future.
For a lot more information on the day and its history, go here: http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2005/>http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2005/
It's the google feature today as well:
February 28, 2005
Happy Birthday Aunt Susan
Happy birthday today to Aunt Susan and to my college suite-mate Matty!
February 21, 2005
Happy Birthday Katy and Mark
Happy birthdays today to Katy and Mark!
February 14, 2005
Ze on Vday
So our special event today at OSN2005 today was a conversation with the very very funny Ze Frank (of 'How to Dance Properly' fame, which is even part of the Tech's NetPl@net exhibit).
Check out Ze's take on Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day (aka Chocolate Appreciation Day) to you all!
February 12, 2005
Happy Birthday Bill's Dad
I think his birthday is actually tomorrow, but check out Bill's dad on Westport Now, celebrating his 95th birthday at the Y (last year they gave him cupcakes). He really is just amazing!!
February 11, 2005
February 10, 2005
February 02, 2005
Happy Groundhog Day
According to AP reports, "Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, and the news isn't good. The world's most famous furry forecaster saw his shadow Wednesday on Gobbler's Knob, suggesting another six weeks of wintry weather."
Of course a Wisconsin groundhog named Jimmy begs to differ with Phil.
Did you know there were Groundhog Day songs?
January 12, 2005
January 04, 2005
Happy Birthday Ken
Happy birthday today to Ken, who I know from way back at NMP. He now seems to be doing great stuff as President of Network for Good.
According to their site, "Network for Good is the Internet's leading charitable resource — an e-philanthropy site where individuals can donate, volunteer and get involved with the issues they care about. The organization's goal is to connect people to charities via the Internet — using the virtual world to deliver real resources to nonprofits and communities."
Its a great place to find information on how you can donate to the tsunami relief efforts (the group is in the news quite a bit right now for their efforts especially because AOL is pointing people there.)
January 01, 2005
Happy Birthday John
Happy birthday today to John -- and yes that's a candle in his waffle! John's birthday marks the end of our marathon birthday celebration week here in Florida!
December 31, 2004
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everyone!
We just had a great New Year's Eve dinner in Celebration (the planned city) and a carriage ride around town. After a quick late-night mini-golf match, we are now trying to stay up late enough to watch the ball drop.
Here's to a great 2005!
December 27, 2004
December 26, 2004
Happy Birthday to Me!
Happy birthday to me!
And I'm finally feeling better so I had the traditional waffle birthday breakfast (though without the ice cream that we always used to get when we were little)
So now Shachar and I are checking in from a Borders in Orlando, waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive!
December 23, 2004
Gingerbread for Geeks
As seen in Librarian in Black and other sites today, some really Nerdy Christmas Crafts like this gingerbread CPU and laptop (I love the mouse!)
I told someone at work that I was flying to Florida on Christmas and got this pretty dumbfounded look when I explained that I didn't celebrate Christmas so I might as well be flying when everyone else already wanted to be somewhere else.
December 19, 2004
Countdown
[Less than] one week left in my 20s. Goodness. Not quite sure where that all went.
December 14, 2004
Happy Hanukkah, Day 8
Tonight's the last night of Hanukkah.
Thank you to Mom for this very snazzy menorah!
December 13, 2004
Happy Hanukkah, Day 7
We're winding down this year's holiday celebrations.
Today's Hanukkah link of the day is a bit about Judith,
Apparently in Tunis, "Women would specially commemorate the seventh day of Hanukkah on which day the widow Judith is said to have performed her brave acts during the period of Syrian Greek dominance." (GirlPower)
According to the Jewish Women's Archive, Hanukkah festivities used to include "the celebration of two heroes - Judah Maccabee and Judith". They explain:
In the second century B.C.E., as the powerful Assyrian army invades the Near East, the town of Bethulia is besieged by the cruel and domineering Holofernes, foremost general of the Assyrian emperor Nebuchadnezzar. If Bethulia yields, the whole country will fall into Assyrian hands. Discouraged, the city's elders agree to surrender the famine-stricken city if they are not rescued within a few days. Judith, a young widow and most unlikely savior, challenges them to take responsibility for the future of their community. She enters the Assyrian camp where Holofernes, smitten with her remarkable beauty, invites her to a banquet. When he retires to his bed in a drunken stupor, they are left alone in his tent. Judith takes up his sword and decapitates him. With the Assyrian army thrown into confusion, Judith inspires the Israelites to launch a surprise attack from which they emerge victorious.
Since Hanukkah is tied to giving and charity (or tzedakah), another site reminds us that:
Women are obligated to light the Hanukkah menorah,'' says the Talmud (Shabbat 23a), "for they took part in the miracle." One story tells of the daughter of the high priest, facing violation by the Syrian-Greek governor, who shames her brothers into revolt. A second story "borrows" the saga of Judith cutting off the head of the Assyrian tyrant Holofernes. Dedicate one night to a discussion of women and resistance--and give tzedakah to a feminist organization.
That sounds like an excellent 7th night of Hanukkah tradition.
Oh, and according to this site, we should eat cheese things tonight!
The custom of eating cheese pancakes and cheese delicacies on Hanukkah dates back to the Middle Ages and is related to the story of Judith, the daughter of a Hasmonean. According to legend, she fed cheese to Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar's army and archenemy of the Jews. He became so thirsty that he drank a lot of wine, got drunk, and was beheaded by Judith, leading to a Jewish victory.
December 12, 2004
Hanukkah, Day 6
Another night of candles (with yummy leftover latke-like potato things for dinner)
Tonight's Hanukkah link is some book reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle, Hanukkah rituals -- from poignant to silly, reviewed by Susan Faust, published on Sunday, November 28, 2004. There's a good selection of hanukkah books here as well.
Emy spotted a Hanukkah book starring mice and thought of me (knowing of my IM mouse avatar). It may have been this one or this one maybe?
December 11, 2004
Happy Hanukkah, Day 5
Jelly donuts tonight for Hanukkah! Shachar made them -- and they're filled with strawberry jam that he made from strawberries he grew! Crazy!
Happy Birthday Brian!!
Happy birthday today to my wonderful brother Brian (who readers here know all about because I'm always posting his clippings and things).
Not only did Brian speak today at a very cool sounding conference, but he launched a brand new blog, Rules for Radical Communication. I think I'll have to go get a copy of Rules for Radicals and follow along! Congrats B and good luck on the new endeavor.
and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
December 10, 2004
Happy Hanukkah, Day 4
Tonight's cheezy Hanukkah link is a virtual menorah.
Light the Jewishcolorado.org Virtual Menorah. To "light" the menorah, click on the appropriate day on that page and then pass your mouse over that day's candle.
Oh, and there are bunches of virtual dreidel games to play as well.
December 09, 2004
Happy Birthday Ted!
Happy birthday today to Ted (and a Happy Hanukkah to him and Alison and Gabriel!)
Happy Hanukkah, Day 3
Happy 3rd night of Hanukkah!
I'm posting this funny hanukkah rap because a) I thought it was funny the first time someone sent it to me a month or so ago and b) because every day another 2-3 people send it to me and I want them to know that yes, I have seen it and c) because I actually do know a couple of people who may not have gotten 17 copies of it yet. Anyway, enjoy.
December 08, 2004
Happy Hanukkah, Day 2
Happy second night of Hanukkah! (This time I took the batteries out of my smoke detector before lighting the candles.)
December 07, 2004
Happy Hanukkah
Since its past sundown now on the East, Happy Hanukkah to you all! (and a special thank you to Mom, who sent me a package of goodies!!)
I stopped by Emy's who played the BareNaked Ladies holiday album, including some very cool Hanukkah songs. So of course I had to itunes at least one as soon as I got home.
After getting home from working at the library, I lit my candles without thinking about it and set off the smoke alarm (doh). Note to self, do not light candles directly underneath a smoke detector. At least it was the first night and so only 2 candles. I took the batteries out...
Thought this was interesting -- This Hanukkah, join Jews around North America in 8 simple actions to help conserve energy, slow global climate change, and save you money!
Anyway, more Hanukkah-related postings all week...
December 04, 2004
National Cookie Day
December 4th is National Cookie Day! So don't forget to eat a cookie today to celebrate!
Update: To celebrate, we visited the Pacific Cookie Company store in Santa Cruz and sampled some of the different cookies available. We also brought some to Margaret and Alan so that we could go and say hello to them! The people in the store didn't even know it was National Cookie Day, so we felt we were performing a public service by helping to spread the word. The cookies were fantastic as well -- I think my favorite were the "Mint Condition" ones which are double chocolate cookies with mint chips. mmm. We have a chocolate dipped snickerdoodle that we're saving for later...
November 28, 2004
More Anniversary Party Pictures
Here are some of the other photos from the party -- if you want a larger copy of one that you are in, email me or leave a comment below and I'll send it to you... (emily - at - chocolatespoon.com)
November 27, 2004
Anniversary Party
Tonight was the party to celebrate Mom and Bill's 10th anniversary (and the 10th anniversary of us all being one great big family!) Here are a few of the photos from the party.
It was a great party -- complete with a chocolate fondue fountain, pomegranite martinis in an ice-slide, a 3-piece ensemble, and lots of great people -- many of whom were at the wedding party 10 years ago!
I'll post some more of the photos in the morning!
November 25, 2004
Happy Anniversary Mom & Bill
Happy 10th Anniversary today to Mom and Bill -- we'll be celebrating Saturday night!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm now safely in CT (JetBlue rocks!) and am looking forward to a nice relaxing thanksgiving. Happy Hollidays everyone!
November 22, 2004
Happy Birthday Amytha!
Happy birthday today to Amytha! We're going to celebrate by trying to visit as many wacky, tacky and crafty San Jose places as we can... Stay tuned for pictures...
November 20, 2004
November 12, 2004
Happy Diwali
Just learned from my friend Tina that today is the first day of Diwali, a five day Hindu festival often referred to as the Festival of Lights (Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps") It also apparently marks the new year (according to the Diversity Calendar linked from LII, "The fourth day of Diwali falls on the first day of the lunar New Year") Some of the traditions and things are explained here as well.
So Happy Diwali and Happy New Year to any of you celebrating.
On fall/winter nights like this when it gets dark so early, a festival of lights is a wonderful thing to observe. I'm definitely looking forward to Hanukkah myself!
October 31, 2004
Happy Halloween and Daylight Savings
Daylight savings always messes me up. I'm always so afraid of being late anyway, that to purposely be an hour late today was psychologically difficult. So I split the difference and showed up 1/2 hour early (secretly fearing I would find myself a 1/2 hour late) and am enjoying a nice vanilla latte before the doors open here at the library at noon.
Lots to catch up on from yesterday when I get a chance to upload the photos. Went to the grand opening of the new Cupertino library which looks awesome, worked all afternoon in Campbell, and then saw a commuity theater production of Man of La Mancha...
I brought my favorite witch hat to the library and dressed all in black, but I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to wear it at the reference desk or not.
October 29, 2004
Happy Birthday Liz!
Happy Birthday today to my sister Liz, who is off (hopefully) enjoying freshman year at BU. I see she's already signed up as a darkroom mentor in the BU Photography Club, which sounds pretty cool.
October 25, 2004
Happy Birthday Susan!
Happy Birthday today to my Group Jazz colleague Susan who keeps the place running and keeps me sane.
October 22, 2004
Surprise!
Glen threw a very nice surprise brithday party tonight for Bobbi Lynn. Of course it wasn't really a surprise since she'd been asking for a surprise party all year, but she didn't know the details and certainly seemed pleased when we all jumped out. Here she is with her tiara opening presents. Emy came and brought along her cool new mystery kit finished piece and a WIP shawl/wrap out of the most gorgeous multi-colored supersoft yarn. Yumm.
And I mocked up a playbill starring Bobbi Lynn for her card (since it was a broadway themed gift) and her Dad got her a sewing machine, which will hopefully lead to new cool craftiness!!
And apparently her friend Hiroshi was googling the Republican candidate for State Assembly in our district the other day and I'm the 2nd hit (and he visited my site and saw BobbiLynn's site in my blogroll). This is all really pretty funny because a) I accidentally spelled the guy's name wrong and b) I'm definitely voting for Ira Ruskin in this race (State Assembly, District 21). It did remind me however that I should go through and post some additional information about all the local races in the next week, especially if random people looking for political information may accidentally stumble over here.
Happy Birthday Bobbi Lynn and Alan
Happy birthdays today to Bobbi Lynn and Alan! Bobbi Lynn loves birthdays so its a shame we're not doing anything at all to celebrate this year [wink].
October 21, 2004
Happy Birthday Grandma
Happy birthday today to my grandmother in Pittsburgh, who is 95 and really just amazing. She's moving tomorrow out of her apartment where she's lived for 37 years, but staying in the same neighborhood. Best wishes and luck and a very very happy birthday!
Here she is at Aaron and Cyndi's wedding last May in St. Louis.
October 19, 2004
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy birthday today to my uncle Jonathan (who was just mentioned in the Cleveland Plain Dealer) and Happy anniversaries to Brian & Karen and Jen & Matt!
October 18, 2004
Happy Birthday Carrie H!
Happy Birthday today to Carrie, one of my fantastic roommates from Amherst who (at least last I heard) is the literary manager/dramaturg extraordinaire at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. (She's even mentioned in an August Backstage magazine article)
October 16, 2004
Happy Birthday Hanna!
Happy birthday (a big one!) today to Hanna! She's having a huge city-wide scavenger hunt in London with friends today to celebrate. I wish I could be there!
October 05, 2004
Happy Birthday Peter
Oops! Almost forgot to wish Peter a happy birthday too!
Happy Birthday Eduard!
Another birthday for Eduard, who can now go see R-rated movies on his own. Too bad he can't quite vote in this year's election (I feel his pain, I turned 18 right after missing my chance to vote for Clinton the first time around).
So Happy Birthday!! (it was harder than I thought to find an a cappella happy birthday online, so this one's a bit weird with some pretty heavy German accents, but its the thought that counts, right?)
September 24, 2004
Yom Kippur
This evening starts Yom Kippur, so for any of you who are fasting, best wishes for an easy fast tonight and tomorrow. Here's a list of tips I found (but didn't follow). Ellen, Chris, Shachar and I will be heading to Kol Nidrei services this evening. At its best, the service includes a moving cello solo (listen to a midi version)
September 23, 2004
Many Birthdays
Happy birthdays today to Jane, Aunt Barbi and Greg!
September 15, 2004
L'Shana Tova
Happy New Year! For those of you not celebrating, tonight is the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. There are all sorts of customs and traditions associated with the holiday, many of which I didn't even know about. Certainly I will try to eat some apples dipped in honey (for a sweet new year). I didn't realize you weren't supposed to take a nap on Rosh Hashana day, but there will be little risk of that since ASTC starts tomorrow!
Anyway, I'm very excited that this will be the third year in a row of going to services with my friend Ellen (and the 2nd with her now-husband-then-fiance as well). Its hard to believe I've lived here long enough to have such long-standing traditions! Tonight is Erev Rosh HaShanah (Rosh Hashanah Eve) since the holidays always start at sundown the night before.
So, best wishes for a sweet and healthy new year! Or, as one friend wrote to me, "I would like to wish you all the best for the new year health joy and anything else that I may forgoten to add here."
update: Thank you to EMY who sent me an excellent virtual E-Shana Tova Greeting Card with apples and honey and purple flowers!
Belated
Happy belated early-September birthdays to Alison and EMY! I'm not sure where the first half of the month just went....
September 13, 2004
Happy birthday grandpa!
Happy birthday today to my grandfather! Its hard to believe its been a whole year since the big 90th birthday bash at the Historical Society last September.
Mom sent along this photo of grandpa with an ice cream cake (I was just reminiscing this evening with a fellow East Coast transplant about Carvel ice cream cakes with that layer of chocolate crunchies...) Jonathan and Lois are on the sides of the photo.
August 31, 2004
Happy Birthday Paul (and congrats on a great presentation)
Paul and I presented our prototype library blog this morning to the management committee of the library system -- and it turns out that today's his birthday as well! So happy birthday Paul -- and thanks for all your amazing work on the presentation! Its been so much fun working with you!
(Here's Paul setting up for our presentation -- and remarkably the technology worked flawlessly!)
August 20, 2004
Happy Birthday Brett
Happy birthday today to Brett! (assuming I have the day right...)
August 14, 2004
Congratulations Ed and Brigitta
Mom sent along these great photos of Ed and Brigitta's wedding today, which Mom officiated in Weston. What a gorgeous spot for a wedding!
Great photo of grandpa (in his favorite wedding guest paisley sportcoat) with mother-of-the-groom Lois. Congrats!
August 01, 2004
Happy Birthday Adam
Happy birthday today to Adam B (not of the OC fame). I'm going to stop by his birthday party tonight and will try to sneak a photo if I can... :)
July 21, 2004
Happy Birthday Maria
Happy birthday today to Maria Coplit who I've been friends with since 6th grade and who was one of the "spoons" with Katy, Stephanie and me in high school. This photo is from the night before Katy's wedding.
... and while poking around for mentions of Maria (she's not terribly google-able... though may be once this page gets indexed [grin]), I found this discussion on Evan's SHS alumni site that's discussing places now defunct in Westport. I remember years ago an article in the paper (possibly by Dan Woog?) talked about how everyone still gives directions based on landmarks long gone -- this is especially a problem if one's parents grew up in town and still talk about the burger place they used to head to back when school had an open campus policy (of course now I'm completely blanking on the name, despite hearing a million stories of it -- Mom?) I know I still think of the corner on Main Street as where the Remarkable used to be, and the old library will always be remembered as that, despite what stores are there now.
Anyway, happy birthday to Maria!
July 11, 2004
Intern Birthdays
Happy birthday this week to two amazing women that I was an intern with back in 1993 -- Patti Shea (7/9) and Jenn Hathaway (today). Patti's currently at The Washington Times (I think) and I have no idea where Jenn is (last I heard she was the Director of Public Relations for the Metropolitan Council, a regional governing agency in Minnesota).
But anyway, I wanted to wish them both a happy birthday!
July 07, 2004
Howard Rheingold
Happy Birthday today to Howard Rheingold one of my favorite writers and one of the coolest people I've ever met (and a friend of Lisa's, so you know he must be cool).
July 04, 2004
Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July!
I can't remember who posted this fireworks site, but its a lot of fun to play with.
Tina and I stopped by some of the Los Gatos festivities...
The palm trees give it away that its definitely not your New England 4th of July...
June 30, 2004
Happy Anniversary Hanna and John
Happy Anniversary to Hanna and John! I can't believe its been three years already! Love you!
June 20, 2004
Happy Father's Day!
Happy father's day to my Dad, to Bill, and to any of the rest of you who are Dads celebrating today!
I just learned that the first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19th, 1910. And while President Calvin Coolidge (an Amherst alum) proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day in 1924, it only became a permanent national observance in 1972 under President Richard Nixon.
The US Census Bureau has a list of facts and figures for father's day, including that they estimate there are 66.3 million fathers in the US today. They also estimate that there are 105,000 “stay-at-home” dads -- including a couple of my friends (hi Mike! hi Paul! hi Peter!) who are staying home to take care of their kids.
Ties are of course associated with Father's Day (but I don't think we ever gave Dad ties since his family had a men's clothing store in Pittsburgh while we were growing up so he had an ample supply of ties). But here's a history of ties that was interesting and a piece about dads on TV.
June 15, 2004
Happy Birthday Phil!
Happy birthday today to Phil, who suffered through comp sci classes with me at Amherst -- including an all-nighter where we attempted to make an address book in binary or something equally nonsensical (for the record, I think our program did work, but we would never have passed the class without Susan's amazing help with the circuits and things like that!) My email addresses for Phil are bouncing so I'm not quite sure where he is these days, but wanted to say Happy Birthday!
June 05, 2004
Happy Birthday Lisa!
A very happy birthday today to Lisa!!!
May 31, 2004
Happy Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day!
Bill's driving in the parade in Westport to promote his upcoming Concours d'elegance, and most of you are probably out enjoying the holiday with barbeques and other traditions (Brian and Karen are hosting a big wiffle game I think). My goal is to clean up my apartment, start my homework for my two summer classes, update the new online center for ASTC volunteers, work on the virtual chautauqua site, put some energy into OSN2004, work on my hat, and maybe take a walk... but we'll see how far I get today...
And look, another of the cool people in my knitting group has started a knitting blog. Go Janice! She's working on the most gorgeous cardigan with a very complicated looking pattern...
Ooh, and check out these great pictures someone posted of the new Seattle Public Library! I can't wait until Margaret, Alan and I take a field trip up to see it!
Update: check out this photo Mom just sent of them in the parade!
May 28, 2004
Happy Birthday Betty!
Betty is 18 today!!!!!
Here's a picture of her at school last week when I went to visit her. She's already registered 146 people for her big voter registration project! And she's graduating one week from today! Wow!!
May 21, 2004
Happy Birthday Darin!
A happy birthday today to my friend Darin and congrats on all the success of Heads Up DC. Darin and I met the 2nd day of eighth grade (he missed the first day, but his reputation for being the smartest kid in the class preceeded him) and were good friends all through high school.
I was just telling Betty yesterday that my prom date (Darin) had gone to Princeton (and then transferred to Harvard) -- Betty's prom date is also Princeton bound...
May 10, 2004
Happy Birthday Uncle Doug
Happy Birthday today to Uncle Doug -- and happy anniversary to him and Aunt Barbi!
May 09, 2004
Happy Mother's Day!
I thought that it was interesting that, according to Mother's Day on the Net - The Story, "In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace." We could use more days dedicated to peace. Alas, a Blog posted a speech by Julia Ward Howe, 1870, which expresses the original sentiment.
Some interesting figures from Mother's Day - What you need to know:
- Mother's Day is widely reported as the peak day of the year for long distance telephone calls
- Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for many restaurants
So happy Mother's Day to Mom and to Jane (though I just learned that there is a separate stepmother's day on May 19th) and to any of the rest of you who are celebrating today!
May 05, 2004
Happy Cinco de Mayo
BobbiLynn and I of course forgot that it was Cinco de Mayo today until we arrived at Chevy's and saw the very long line. But it was definitely worth the long wait for our yummy cantaloupe margaritas and caramel empanadas.
April 28, 2004
Happy Birthday Carrie!!!
 Flashback to Belgium, 2001 (?)
Hmmm... I should have a lot more pics around here somewhere... | Today is Carrie's birthday!! And, if that wasn't enough, she's now exactly three weeks away from completing her masters in journalism from Columbia (and she's the class president and will be speaking at her graduation!)
Let see... First I have to thank Brian for introducing us back in November of 1996 (?) A bunch of my Amherst friends came down and met up with her at the Inauguration (Jan '97). Then I moved down to Arlington and she showed me the ropes there. Eventually we lived in the same building and took countless field trips to Ikea, pumpkin picking, farmer's markets, political events, walks, etc. After I moved out West, I eventually convinced her that it was the place to be and I got to see lots of her again! Over the years we've traveled together to Belgium, Amsterdam, Colorado, Las Vegas, and probably a bunch of other places I can't think of off-hand. It's awfully sad having her all the way back in NYC again -- but I'm sure we'll both be moving around a bunch more times in the next few years and our paths do always seem to cross again and again. :) Happy Birthday Carrie!! |
April 26, 2004
Happy Birthday Chris
Happy birthday to my Amherst friend Chris, who sent along these recent photos of his very cute kids Susanna and Benjamin.
April 22, 2004
Happy Earth Day
Happy Earth Day. I feel like I should be doing something. Jean invited me to help count burrowing owls (it apparently involves "walking through open fields, with tall grass in some locations, searching for active nest burrows") but had a conflict this morning.
Does anyone know of a good site that would give a comprehensive state-of-the-environment report with what the biggest issues we should be working on are and a list of things we should be taking action on? I'll have to wait to see what Carrie blogs for today, she's usually my best source on enviro issues.
Update: There was a nice list of things to do on the democracy for america blog.
Update #2: Mom sent this along from the DNC
Click here to view our Earth Day Flash movie. Don't miss this chance to speak out. Earth Day 2004 is an opportunity to tell everyone you know about the clear choice we face in November. There is no fight for our environment more important than the battle to take back the White House for the American people.
Join the fight today by talking to your friends, family, neighbors, and everyone you know about the stark difference between President Bush's record of environmental destruction and John Kerry's vision for a cleaner and greener planet. Click here to visit our DNC Earth Day action center for all the resources you need to celebrate Earth Day 2004 the best way possible: by helping us win back the White House!
April 19, 2004
Happy Birthday Heather!!
My dear friend and Amherst-suitemate Heather has her birthday today!!!
April 15, 2004
Happy Birthday Janine!
Happy birthday to Janine (who's email address I forgot to bring with me on the trip, so I can't email her to wish her a happy birthday today.)
Happy Tax Day to all of you as well. (a bit of tax humor for your dog and one that suggests one should be able to claim one's inner child as a deduction...)
April 11, 2004
Happy Easter
Happy Easter to my friends and family who are celebrating today with brown-sugar covered hams and baskets full of goodies. I'm in favor of any holiday that celebrates chocolate, and it took great willpower not to buy my favorite cadbury mini eggs (shown here -- though I did buy one cadbury creme egg in a weak moment).
BobbiLynn and I were musing over the origins of the easter bunny, and I was trying to determine which aspects of the holiday (clearly the eggs) were more from the pagan side than the Christian side. I found this nice Bonnets & Bonnies: The Origins of Easter site which gives a brief overview, including:
Lambs, chicks and baby creatures of all kinds are all associated with spring, symbolizing the birth of new life. Since ancient times many cultures have associated eggs with the universe. They've been dyed, decorated and painted by the Romans, Gaul's, Persians and the Chinese. They were used in ancient spring festivals to represent the rebirth of life....During the 4th century consuming eggs during Lent became taboo. However, spring is the peak egg-laying time for hens, so people began to cook eggs in their shells to preserve them. Eventually people began decorating and hiding them for children to find during Easter, which gave birth to the Easter Egg Hunt. Other egg-related games also evolved like egg tossing and egg rolling....The Easter Bunny is a cute little rabbit that hides eggs for us to find on Easter. But where did he come from? Well, the origin is not certain. In the rites of spring the rabbit symbolized fertility. In a German book published in 1682, a tale is told of a bunny laying eggs and hiding them in the garden.
According to The Pagan origins of the Easter Bunny, "In second century Europe, the predominate spring festival was a raucous Saxon fertility celebration in honor of the Saxon Goddess Eastre (Ostara), whose sacred animal was a hare. " And of course, the hare and rabbit are symbols of fertility and new life in many cultures, particularly during Springtime.
But back to the candy, check out these Easter Candy Facts, including that, "Each Easter season, Americans buy more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps, shaped like chicks, as well as Marshmallow Bunnies and Marshmallow Eggs, making them the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy." Other interesting facts? "Chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first, according to 76% of Americans. Five percent said bunnies should be eaten feet first, while 4% favored eating the tail first." "Yellow Peeps are the most popular, followed by pink, lavender, blue, and white." "Americans consume 16 billion jellybeans at Easter, many of them hidden in baskets. If all the Easter jellybeans were lined end to end, they would circle the globe nearly three times."
And apparently "In Norway, reading detective novels and crime thrillers has become a popular Easter pastime" (according to Easter Around the World.) Hmmm, another excuse to spend some of the day reading The BeeKeeper's Apprentice (which is GREAT so far).
April 05, 2004
Happy Passover
Happy Passover! I'm off to Seder at Margaret and Alan's in Santa Cruz!
My favorite thing about Passover is the thought that around the world today, people are sitting around doing the same things (more or less) and eating the same foods, telling the same stories, etc. So send me a photo of your Seder and I'll post a couple here :)
Next year in Jerusalem!
Mom sent these of her Seder:
(if I was home, there would have been an orange on the seder plate - grin)
March 08, 2004
International Women's Day
Today is International Women's Day
"When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development."
March 07, 2004
Happy Purim
Happy Purim! I'm trying to decide whether to make hamentaschen (or be good and not make cookies so I don't eat them.) I really liked this Virtual Purim site.
March 02, 2004
Happy Seussentennial!
Today the world is celebrating 100 Years of Dr. Seuss!
Its a great way to celebrate reading! The NEA has a program called Read Across America Day, "celebrated annually on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2--[which] generates enthusiasm for reading nationwide and focuses the country’s attention on how important it is to motivate children to read."
February 29, 2004
Happy Leap Day
I didn't realize quite what Leap Day traditionally meant to the single girl (though I'll definitely be sitting this one out). I found some great info and ephemera at the Leap Year Day Project Museum (or LeapZeum).
For some ridiculous reason, to which, however, I've no desire to be disloyal,
Some person in authority, I don't know who, very likely the Astronomer Royal,
Has decided that, although for such a beastly month as February,
twenty-eight days as a rule are plenty,
One year in every four his days shall be reckoned as nine and-twenty.
A paradox, a paradox,
A most ingenious paradox!
Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!
February 28, 2004
Happy Birthday Aunt Susan!
A very happy birthday to my Aunt Susan who is celebrating at a concert of the Norwalk Symphony called the Colors Of Sound (fitting, since she is of course an artist). Some of her work is online on the Westport Art Center's site and in the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection.
Mom sent me this photo of Aunt Susan with Norwalk mayor Alex Knopp who made a proclamation in honor of her birthday! plus a picture of the birthday cake!
February 21, 2004
Happy Birthday to Katy and Mark!
Today is both Katy and Mark's birthdays! Happy birthday to them!
February 14, 2004
Chocolate Appreciation Day
Happy Valentine's Day -- or, as my friends and I like to think of it, Chocolate Appreciation Day!
February 13, 2004
Happy Birthday Len
More birthdays! Mom and Bill surprised his father Len at the Y in Westport, where he works out 3 times a week, with cupcakes for his 94th birthday. He got a round of applause from all the other exercisers.
Happy Birthday Len!
February 11, 2004
Happy Birthday Dad!!
Today's my Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! Here's a photo of him from when we were in Paris in January.
February 10, 2004
January 12, 2004
Happy Birthday Annie!
My step-sister Annie turns 14 today! Happy Birthday!
We celebrated early with a cake on Friday before I left (Annie is pictured here with Eduard and Bill and her Nemo ice cream cake)
December 26, 2003
Happy Birthday to Me!
Today is my 29th birthday!!!
Here's a photo from dinner with Dr. Bruce and Maria:
December 11, 2003
Happy Birthday Brian!
12/11 is Brian's birthday! Happy birthday!!!
November 27, 2003
October 22, 2003
Birthdays
Happy birthdays today to BobbiLynn and Alan (coming soon: hayinart)!
October 05, 2003
Have an easy fast!
Wishing any of you who are observing the holiday an easy fast for tonight and tomorrow!
September 26, 2003
Happy New Year
Ellen and I attended Shir Hadash's Erev Rosh Hashanah services this evening. Unfortunately I have class all day tomorrow (crazy! but it ONLY meets this weekend, so I have to go) so I won't be attending tomorrow. We are planning to go next Sunday and/or Monday though of course.
September 13, 2003
Grandpa's 90th Birthday Party
Today is my grandfather's 90th birthday party so we had a huge party at the new Ralph and Betty Sheffer Hall (named after him and my grandmother) at the Westport History Center. The party was also to celebrate Brian and Karen's (pictured here with Grandpa) engagement (the wedding's next month!)
Brian and Karen opened some presents beforehand -- here they're getting a first edition of Make Way For Ducklings (they also got a Mini!!)
Some photos from the party:
(click to enlarge)
The guest of honor
Here's me with Grandpa
Grandpa with Mom and Aunt Barbi
Karen with her brother-in-law, father, and sister
Slyvia, cousin Emily, cousin Brooke, and Liz
Betty and Eduard
Katie (aka Annie) and Liz
Christopher and Jonathan
Uncle Doug, cousin Kate, James and Anna
Grace and Tatania
Brian with Karen's neice Sara
Karen's Mom Evelyn with Chris and Irv Burkholder
Bill looking at the new exhibit on television stars from Westport
