songbird's crazy world

So I went to my weight watchers meeting on Tuesday, and despite the holiday excesses, I still managed to lose a pound! Bravo! the leader handed out some "bling" ....a small charm in the shape of clapping hands, with the number "16" to show we've done 16 weeks of program....when I looked for the charm on Friday it was gone...but I found it again Sunday night. this week's meeting was all about activity -- something I am sadly lacking. Personal goal for the week is to ADD MOVEMENT!!! And I manage 20 minutes of working out while watching The Biggest Loser, not a bad start. Afterward, I really felt the burn in my arms and legs...I've got to keep this up. good thing I renewed my membership at the Y, I may actually see the inside of the gym eventually. thursday lunchtime I actually took a walk along the waterfront....and ran into several members of my WW group. felt good. of course, the weekend came along and blew me away. I'll try to do better this

about 7-8 years ago my friend Denise met a guy through an internet dating site. after a few dates she told me "I think Phil would be better for you than for me." and she set me up on a blind date. our first date was at an Italian restaurant, Papa Joe's, a place I'd eaten with Drew and some of our friends. while we were eating, he started telling me about his passion and involvement with a local theater group, one that did a lot of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. he asked me if I'd heard of any Gilbert & Sullivan works, other than the big three -- Mikado , HMS Pinafore and Pirates of Penzance . I said yes, I'd see Iolanthe , that my ex husband, his parents and his sister were all involved in a Gilbert & Sullivan group. he looked at me and said "YOU'RE Drew's ex wife?" yep, they were involved with the same Gilbert & Sullivan group. Phil acts and directs, and Drew and his sister perform. I went out with Phil for a few months.

Becca and Drew spent yesterday in boston, looking at BU. today she asked me to take her to DC to see GW again. We're going in 2 weeks.

Drew and I saw the Wizard of Oz in a real movie theater tonight. NCM Fathom, Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies present The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event featuring the first ever High Definition presentation in movie theatres nationwide of The Wizard of Oz. This One Night Event will take place in over 440 movie theatres nationwide on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. (local time). In addition to the feature presentation of The Wizard of Oz, this exclusive event will include a special introduction by Robert Osborne, a classic film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, followed by “To Oz! The Making of a Classic,” a look into how L. Frank Baum’s classic novel was transformed into one of the most beloved films of all time including archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and rare musical outtakes. Also featured will be an exclusive clip of the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger, dancing in High-definition for the very first time. This isn't just a movie,

So last Tuesday....our Weight Watchers at Work Meeting begins at 1 PM, and we're encouraged to bring lunch with us. I usually eat lunch at noon, and by 12:15 I was STARVING! that was dangerous, since I hadn't brought my lunch and I can't think straight when I am that hungry. I held on, though, and got a salad for lunch in the take out place downstairs. How could I do otherwise, when everyone in our WW group would be watching what I had for lunch? good weigh-in, I lost 1.8 pounds! that ought to keep me going a bit longer. I anticipate that the biggest challenge of my week, of course, is Rosh Hashanah. All the traditional foods, all the special treats, so much temptation! the biggest challenge....well, except for lunch on Wednesday....kosher Middle Eastern place on ann Street...the best hummus and felafel in NYC. I would have been ok if I'd stayed away from the Moroccan cigars...ruined my whole day, and by the time I got to Open School night I was so hungry I ate t

it was lonely in synagogue this weekend. I was with 2,000 of my friends and neighbors, yet I was lonely. Becca came to synagogue with me....but spent her time in the lobby with her friends. Jen never made it inside the building at all. her choice, she's almost 19, what can I say? but what truly saddened me...my dad didn't come. it was the first time in years he didn't come to synagogue. he's 82 now, and the thought of being in such a crowded, noisy place was just overwhelming.

so over the weekend Jen very casually mentioned -- once again -- that there is almost always alcohol at all the parties. when I was in college, the drinking age was 18, and there was a lot of drinking on campus. the drinking age is 21 now, but otherwise...times have not really changed, have they? so periodically I discuss drinking with my daughter....how there's a difference between having a few drinks and getting blitzed, how "don't drink and drive" is sound advice....how it's good to "buddy up" with other girls to make sure everyone gets home from the party... I'm not under any illusion Jen won't drink. I just want her do do it sensibly.

Tash⋅likh   /Seph. tɑʃˈlix; Ashk. ˈtɑʃlɪx/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [Seph. tahsh-leekh; Ashk. tahsh-likh] Show IPA Use tashlik in a Sentence See web results for tashlik See images of tashlik –noun Hebrew. a Jewish rite, performed on the afternoon usually of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, in which the participants symbolically cast off their sins by gathering along the banks of a river, stream, or the like and reciting prayers of repentance. Because yesterday, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, was also Shabbat, we performed Taslikh today instead. My congregation is very fortunate. Right across the street from the synagogue is a small park. From the street it looks like nothing, just a patch of woods. but if you follow the footpath into the woods you will find a real pond. Tashlikh must be performed at a "living" body of water. There are fish and frogs and turtles in this pond -- we saw turtles today -- so it meets the requirements. We parade up the street from the temple

Happy Rosh Hashanah to one and all. May you have a sweet new year.

You know how, as your birthday or the new year approaches, you tend to become introspective? you review the past year and make resolutions about the coming one. as a Jew, I celebrate the New Year twice -- a secular new year in January, and a religious new year at Rosh Hashanah. Unlike the secular new year, with its parties and fireworks and etc., the Jewish High Holy days focus on introspection, on self analysis, on prayer. I reflect on all the changes in my life since last Rosh Hashanah...and the changes to come in the new year. A baby bird has flown out of the nest and is on the road to discovering who she will be. Another baby bird is stretching her wings, preparing to fly. an old love has returned to my life. I can't wait to see what the new year birngs.

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff, and brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff. Oh Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail, Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came, Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name. Oh Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee A dragon lives forever but not so little boys Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys. One grey night it happened,

Still trying to come up with vacation ideas for February. I said "Disneyworld" and he said "Cancun". then he said "or maybe a cruise to the Bahamas packaged with Disneyworld". and today he said "Acapulco and Mexico City." decisions, decisions....

Tonight NBC premiers its new season of The Biggest Loser. I didn't see the first few seasons of the show, I found it in 2006, but I've seen previous episodes in reruns on cable. I've become very much a fan of the show. It's one of the few shows I still consider "must-see TV". I am very much looking forward to tonight's episode. Of equal importance (to me, at least), but much less publicized, is that today begins the next cycle of our Weight Watchers at Work group. I've been a member of this group for awhile now, with mixed results. I'm going to use the show as inspiration for my own weight loss efforts. so here's anew feature of my blog. Every Tuesday will now be "Biggest Loser Tuesday", a discussion of the show, and perhaps some personal discussion as well. the challenges on the show, the challenges I face in real life. Should get interesting.

if your lucky number is 9, now is your moment.

"first day of school". Becca begins her senior year of high school today. her last year of public school. it was the spring of 1997 -- just yesterday -- that I walked her into the elementary school building, the one where Jen was a student, to enroll Becca in kindergarten. and just a few months later that she left preschool behind and began her career as a student in our school district. when she moved from elementary school to middle school, I cried. when she moved from middle school to high school, I cried some more. and when she graduates next June, I am sure I will be a mess. our lives have been governed by the school district calendar since 1995, when Jen began kindergarten. sad to think we won't be ruled by that calendar anymore. but becca is already grumbling about "why do I have to be in high school, I want to be in college." it's going to be an interesting year.

Seen on the Hudson River this morning: (click on photo to enlarge) In September 1609, an Englishman named Henry Hudson, sailing his ship, The Half Moon, under a Dutch flag, arrived at the river that now bears his name. this morning's flotilla honors that discovery. http://www.necn.com/Boston/Nation/2009/09/08/Henry-Hudsons-arrival/1252430058.html

we were successful in moving Jen into her dorm today. it's much easier when you're a sophomore, familiar with the campus and dorm life. but still, she was nervous. everything went smoothly, she had all her stuff unpacked and put away by lunchtime. of course, her father and I had to make a mid-morning run to Walmart to buy a few things she forgot, but that wasn't unexpected. the best part of the day....Drew and Becca and I walked over to the student union because Becca wanted to buy a school t-shirt. we had to walk past the freshmen dorms. a group of sorority girls came over to Becca and asked her if she wanted to rush a sorority. sorry, no, Becca is still in high school (and grumbling that she wants to go to college NOW, not next year.)

Remember this Dr. Pepper commercial? David Naughton in his pre- Makin' It days.

what is it with cats and window sills?

So I was eating a Fig Newton today...and the fig Newton jingle popped into my head. remember it? they guy dressed like a huge fig, singing "The big Fig Newton" and dancing while munching on a cookie? ("here's the tricky part" Found it on Myspace, of all places: the Big Fig Newton

Weight Watchers, that is. the weight's gone up, the weight's gone done. and up again. time for it to go down again....especially if I plan to climb Mayan pyramids in February. it's not set in stone yet, but we're talking about a trip to Cancun. I was able to keep up with Drew so long as we were walking on flat ground. as soon as we hit hills or stairs... yep, it's time to start training for those pyramids...