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Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Blah

My shared reading went pretty well yesterday. I read a bit too fast, but oh well. The teacher told me that I stood in a natural teacher's pose while I was waiting for everyone to be quiet so I can start. Ha. I am getting kind of sick of the class. It is getting way too repetitive. Everyone has side conversations, then the teacher gets into a conversation about other people having conversations. It's getting on my nerves. After I did the reading, everyone had to fill out an evaluation sheet. It reminded me of speech class *shudder*. Afterwards, the class was allowed to verbally critique me. Two of the girls were really funny. They kept saying, "I thought it was great!" It was really good for my ego. Then one of the more serious (well, the most serious) girl critiqued me in a really annoying way. I took it like a man, not to worry.

I had a bio test this morning. I did not study as well as I would have liked to, given how hard I worked to take good notes, but I think I passed anyway! Anything above a 70 will beat my test scores from last semester!

Today, I did some of the pig dissection. My lab partner was happy that she "broke me in". It was okay. I still think it's gross, but I did it! After lab, Shayna came over and brought me a really cute flamingo from Florida! She got me shells, too! She's coming for Shabbos and I am really excited. We're staying in my dorm. It should relax me. I have so much work to do this week. Ew.

I had a nice chill night with Shayna. We shopped around a little bit and then ate at Mendy's. Now I am back in my room and am going to do some homework eventually.

That was a peek at my extremely exciting day.

Good night!

Monday, February 27, 2006

Weekend at Home

It was great to be home. I love my family.

On Friday, Devorah took me to the BU Barnes and Noble and bought me a BU sweatshirt! It's a late/early/half birthday present. I love it! I am now an official poser! It was very overwhelming, but I made it through. She also bought me the Berenstain Bears book that I need for my social studies midterm project. We have to take a children's book and an adult book with the same theme and make a lesson plan out of it. I chose The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners and Social Smarts: Manners For Today's Kids. When I handed in the sheet with my selections on it, the teacher wrote "Interesting. I am curious to see how this develops." So am I.

Shabbos was relaxing. I got to see the Miller baby. She's adorable, bli ayin hara. On Shabbos I got to see Rochel and Chaya in shul. That was a really nice surprise! On Saturday night, me, Dena, DAC and Yitz went out to Cafe Eilat. We saw a girl that we met on the JSU Shabbaton who was at Cafe Eilat with USY seniors. After we ate, Yitz left and me, DAC and Dena went to JP Licks to get cocoa. Then I went home and packed.

I got up at 8am because my cousin, Ari, was leaving from RI at 10. He was taking my grandmother to New Haven, then she was going to Teaneck to see my cousin who came in from Israel. Ari ended up driving me back to the city and I got back to my dorm by 2:30. I was not feeling well for most of the ride, but I felt better after resting for a while. I went out to dinner with Tiff at around 7, then we went to the book sale for an hour. Now, I just finished the lesson plan I have to do for tomorrow (I have to do a shared reading in front of the class) and I have to do my Hebrew work, then I am off to sleep.

Good night!
(Okay, Devorah? :-P)

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Baruch Dayan HaEmes

Last night, I got an e-mail to daven for a boy in 9th grade who fell into a diabetic coma and no one even knew he had diabetes. I got another e-mail this morning that he was niftar during the night. Today, someone told me that he was the little brother of someone I was in NCSY with. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

This is a short d'var Torah to elevate the neshama of Avi ben Susan:

This d'var comes from Sichos Mussar (from R' Chaim Shmulevitz) for Parshas Mishpatim:

In this week's parsha, it talks about lending money to people and being careful not to demand your money back and not to charge them interest.

Chazal explain this phrase to mean that you should put yourself in the poor person's place and don't pressure him to pay you back if you know he doesn't have it.

All of these directives are intended to shape the act of kindness to be as perfect and as thorough as possible. Yet, even someone who has fulfilled all of these requirements is, in addition, faced with the sternest admonition of "You shall not place upon him interest." This is a prohibition of unusual severity. When Yechezkel warned the lenders, he said "He will not live." This is an unusual punishment for a negative commandment (not charging interest). Why is the punishment so severe?

The answer is that the quality of a mitzvah is evaluated not only in terms of form, but any accompanying motive such as self-gratification can corrupt the noblest deed. A person who has performed a mitzvah perfectly, unswervingly, adhering to the letter of the law, yet did not fulfill the mitzvah solely for its own sake, has fallen far short of what was demanded of him. Not being able to do an act of kindness without deriving some personal benefit (e.g. receiving interest) has made that person unworthy of the gift of life.

The Sichos Mussar goes on to discuss other examples of self-gratification in the context of mitzvos. Then at the end...

Shlomo HaMelech sums it up in Koheles. "I saw that all labor and all skillful enterprise springs from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This, too, is futility and vexation of the spirit." (Koheles 4:4)

Chazal expanded this to include much more than merely physical pursuits and accomplishments. It also includes Torah and mitzvos done with improper motives. Thus, be it even learning Torah, or performing a mitzvah, if the motive is 'rivalry with one's neighbor,' the act is deemed vanity and emptiness.

May our selfless deeds allow Avi's neshama to merit an aliya shelaimah.

Good Shabbos.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Great.

Drama is so irritating. And I had to get more of it after bio lab when I had to deal with dissecting a pig. Great timing. Just a note to all of you out there for future reference. I don't like hearing about myself from other people. Be direct. If you want to beat around a bush, then go play in the forest (that is an original).

Anyway, I have work to do. I don't think my Belgian Waffle is coming into the city to celebrate her Hebrew birthday with me. That's okay. She's moving closer to me, so I forgive her.

I really need my family right now. I have so much work and I need out. I can't wait to go home.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Sorry, Shifra!

Sorry for keeping you all out of the loop for three days! Shabbos was awesome! I had so much fun with the kids. The YU Book Sale was insane on Saturday night. After that, we went to the Blue Fringe concert at Mount Sinai and that was even more insane. There were more than 300 JSU kids from all over the country. Whoa!

On Sunday we went into the city. We ate at Circa then went to Times Square. I got some great pictures, but this was my favorite out of all of them.

There was a lot of tension throughout the weekend, but the kids helped us through it. I love them. They were so into everything. They asked a lot of questions and craved the answers. If you heard my voice, you would be able to tell that I had a good time because I sound like a boy hitting puberty.

Today, Shayna came over because she was having a really bad day and we went out onto 34th Street. We went to Old Navy, H&M, Claire's and J2. I got a new skirt, a new bracelet and a set of necklaces, one for me and one for Shayna.

We went uptown at around 6 because I wanted to get stuff from the sale. It's over on Sunday, so if you're in the area, you better go! Shayna and I bought then same CD (Moshav), I got Country Yossi's Greatest Hits (it has the song "Little Kinderlach" which is mine and my nephew's song), and we got Sichos Mussar. We decided that we would learn every week. I can't wait! We went to the library to eat our shwarma and when we were done, we learned. It was awesome. I love that girl! Now I can say that we've known each other for more than a week. Haha.

I have so much work to do soon. Uch. School. It gets in the way.

I dont' have biology class tomorrow, so I don't start until 11:55. Nice! I was supposed to read an article for math class tomorrow. Shoot. Eh.

Good night!

Friday, February 17, 2006

Not In The Mood

I am so not in the mood to go to a museum. We have a mandatory trip from 10-12. I will probably fall asleep standing up. I haven't packed, I haven't really prepared my little speech, and I am just plain exhausted. Oh, yeah, and I have no idea how I am getting there. I am praying that someone will pick me up, but it is looking very doubtful right now. Uch. I'll ask my brother. He's driving a van. Yisrael said that maybe my bro can pick me up if I wait on the GW Bridge. Umm...not really. I also have to pick up some stuff from for the shabbaton from an office near here.

Not only all of this, but I woke up at 7am this morning to do laundry. I napped while it was in the wash, then woke up to switch it. When I went to take it out of the dryer, it was not even close to dry. So, I had to put it in again. I have to ask Erica when we're leaving. I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE MUSEUM! I just kvetched to Erica. She's not in the mood either. UCH! Whatever.

I am more excited than nervous about this Shabbos. I hope to make good connections with the kids. I am also excited for Saturday night when we take the kids to the book sale. I was there last night. Fun fun fun.
This post has been brought to you by the verb KVETCH.

Have a good Shabbos everyone.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Lots to catch up on...

Tuesday night:

MY BELGIAN WAFFLE GOT ME REALLY BAD! I had just come into my room after doing some errands with Miriam. When I was sitting on my bed, someone was ringing the bell. Rebecca yelled, "COME IN!", and I thought it was one of her friends. I was looking at the computer when I heard, "Hello?" I looked up and it was SARAH! It took me a second to register, then I SCREAMED! It was nuts! She came with Racheli. After I stopped crying, I took her up to surprise her old roomate. It was fun to see someone else's reaction. I had to leave to dinner, so Sarah and I decided that we're hanging out on Sunday. At around 7, I had dinner at Kasbah with the crew. Then Shayna and I went to study uptown.

Today, I slept through Hebrew AGAIN. This is not good. I need to get a real alarm clock. My cell phone isn't cutting it. After classes (6:15), I went back to my room. There was a knock at the door and it was Flo (girl from Touro). She came to see Erica, but she wasn't there. I know Flo through Deborah, so it was nice to see her here! I told her I was going to Touro and we went back together. It was nice to have a subway buddy. I picked Shayna up and we went uptown. She worked on her paper and I worked on my slideshow. It is so cool! It's going to be awesome! Oh, and I found MovieMaker on my computer today. I am going to attempt at making an NCSY video for Spring Regional. We'll see.

Friday morning, I have a mandatory museum trip as part of our Teaching Social Studies class. Then I have to figure out how I am getting to Teaneck. It's going to be an awesome weekend.

Need sleep. Yoga in a few hours. Night night.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Uch

I hate ending a day with me feeling unproductive. I could have done work today, but did I? Of course not. Why not? Because I am a lazy bum. Ugh.

Well, at least I got to play in the snow.

I LOVE MIRIAM! (I am talking about my partner, but I love you too, sister)

I woke up at 11 and stayed in bed until 2. Miriam was trying to convince me to go play in the snow with her, but I did not feel like getting up. Then she knocked on my door and forced me out. IT WAS AWESOME! I am so happy she did it. We took some fun pictures. We walked up and down 34th Street, then decided to go to Walgreen's to get Miriam something to cover her head with. Then we went back to the dorm. We stepped through all the high snow piles. It was awesome.

Lesson of the day: The boots I wore are not made for snow. Haha.

THANKS, MIRIAM!

New Snow and a New Friend

Shabbos was awesome. I made a new friend named Shayna. She is really cool. I always heard Amy mention her, and I met her for a couple of minutes one day, but we really bonded over Shabbos. We talked about a lot of common issues that we have. After Shabbos, Feb had to go to her cousins so me and Shayna hung out. We chilled in her room for a while, then we headed to mine...IN THE CRAZY SNOWSTORM! From there, we went uptown for shwarma...IN THE CRAZY SNOWSTORM. I saw some people I know then her friends came. We were pretty much done when they came. Since it was crazy snowing outside, I wanted to wait out the storm a little bit. I went to Devora's for a couple of hours, then me and Shayna left at around 5:30am to get a train back to our respective beds. It was a good move...Shayna's idea. We went our seperate ways at 86th Street. I miss her already. I might see her tomorrow.

Sigh...I had such a great weekend.

I got a text from my Belgian Waffle at around 3am telling me her new number. I am so excited to see her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY! I know it's a few hours late, I did call you! I wish you all the happiness in all of your years to come. You are such an awesome friend and I feel so lucky to have you in my life...no I am not about to propose to you. Don't worry. I LOVE YOU! Speaking of love, I can't wait to see you on Valentine's Day! :)

Friday, February 10, 2006

TGIF

Last night was another fun night with Mimi and Yehudis. I am so glad that we are all still friends. I really am. After going to high school with people, it's not so common for them to remain really close. I love having that!

Other than it being a really fun night, it was also a really late night. I am tired, but excited. My Belgian Waffle just called me from BROOKLYN! I am SO excited to see her on Saturday night! It's going to be crazy! I am going to the Touro dorms for Shabbos to hang with Feb. That's going to be awesome. I have to go get kugel from the caf. That would mean that I may have to get up. Naaaaaaah.

I hope everyone has a great Shabbos!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

So...About the School Thing

Turns out that I am not as screwed as I thought! I had a meeting with my buddy in the office today and she went over all my stuff with me. I have a chance to graduate on time! (audience cheers) All I really need to figure out is what to do about the Judaic side. I have to make a meeting with the head of the department. Everyone says he's a really nice guy. I met with him once, but it was nothing major and it ended up that he couldn't help me anyway. Yeah, so I have to do that.

Yesterday, I spoke to my sister online. She's coming for TWO MONTHS! I am so excited! The only thing I am not so excited about it that I won't be home so often. ARGH.

Oh, another thing that is very on my mind...the girl who I like to call a master moocher (she has a lot of my stuff) has gone back to Florida. Her number is disconnected and she hasn't answered any other form of communication. If anyone would like to look up Gardner in Miami, do it. I can't take this anymore.

Alright, that's all I got.

Monday, February 06, 2006

I hope there was no lit class today...

I really hope there was no literature class today. We were sitting in the classroom until 5. The class was supposed to start at 4:40. One of girls in the class, who I know, said that the rule is that if the teacher doesn't come for 15 minutes. A lot of girls left. I left, too. A rule is a rule. The girl who I followed was upset because some girls weren't leaving. It was pretty annoying. Whatever.

I came back to my room and Adina and Allison were here! They were waiting to hear about my Dougie's adventure. Then they looked in the fridge. Haha. Classic. Deborah is coming over later to take stuff back with her. Then I am going uptown to get my stuff from Devora's since I left it there after Shabbos. I am going to bring Dougie's up there too. The fridge is crazy overloaded. Pretty funny.

Special birthday shout-out to my big sister MICHELLE! Or as I like to call her CHEMELLE! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I can't wait to see you sometime SOON!


I actually have to do work tonight. Ew.

Back

I came back at around 10pm. When I came into my room Tiff and one of my roomies were on the floor eating the Dougie's stuff. I just finished putting all the boxes and pans down the garbage chute. Man, was it annoying.

I need sleep. It's been a crazy day, but at least I got to go to Dunkin Donuts...and home of course!

Good night.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

AT HOME!

I just wanted to write a post so I can say that I am at home right now!
My mom knew I was home. Eh, I'll keep trying to surprise her. I am leaving soon. What a crazy day. At least I got to go to Dunkin Donuts!

FOUR HOURS!

Tomorrow morning, I am taking a bus home and I will be there for 4 hours. Let me explain:

I got a call from Yisrael, the dude in charge of NCSY/JSU in Boston and he was really upset. He ordered Dougie's for the Super Bowl party tomorrow night, and due to some kind of mix-up, it wouldn't come until Monday morning. So, he asked me if I would bring the food. The guy at Dougie's said that if someone came to pick it up, he would give them all the stuff for free. To make a long story shorter, the guy said he would give us 5 times the amount we ordered for free. I told Yisrael I would do it. He said he will pay for my bus fare and any friends I want to bring. Cool.

I went out to Estihana with Devora, Chaia, Amy and neighbors, and I left at around 11. I took the train to Dougie's and all the lights were out. I did not freak out. Really, I didn't. It ended up that they weren't open for dining in because they were taking care of all the Super Bowl Sunday orders. I waited until my order was ready. The guy asked me how many hero sandwiches I could take. I asked him how much other stuff we were getting. We got 5 boxes with two trays each of poppers and wings. Then they gave me 4 hero sandwiches. They helped me get it into a cab, then I called Debra and she helped me get the stuff in the dorm. It was nuts. Deborah Worcester is coming with me tomorrow AM. We're taking the 9am bus there and the 5:30pm bus back. I am not telling my parents. My brother knows, though. SURPRISE! This is going to be crazy.

I just went to Duane Reade to get bags and plastic wrap. Now I have to figure out how I am going to fit all this stuff into suitcases. I better win the Best Advisor EVER award! Whoa.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Shavua Tov

Shabbos was awesome. Lots of quality time with the neighbors. I love coming here!

We are not sure what we're doing tonight. All I have done was rip songs off of some of Devora's CD. I LOVE the new Gavin DeGraw song, We Belong Together. It is a beautiful song. I recommend it.

Anyway, I am going to go continue doing nothing. BYE!

Friday, February 03, 2006

Another One Bites The Dust







The wedding was really nice. I got to bond with my American "nephew", see my shmush and other girls, and dance the night away. A lot of the women were impressed with how much we added to the wedding. Well, at least the ones I spoke to were impressed. Fun times. I can't wait until the next wedding, IY"H. No, not mine! Racheli's!!!!!! (in the picture with 6 girls, she's the one in the center.) I AM SO EXCITED!
May we all hear good news from each other!



Thursday, February 02, 2006

Dovid Abramowitz a"h

A man jumped to his death from the Empire State Building after buying a ticket to its observation deck, police said Thursday. Police identified the victim as Dovid Abramowitz, 21, of Manhattan.

Abramowitz jumped from a vacant office on the 66th floor of the 102-story building in midtown Manhattan at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, said police spokesman Lt. John Grimpel. His body was discovered on a sixth-floor landing of the Fifth Avenue building, one of New York's key tourist destinations. Abramowitz did not work in the building and obtained entry by buying a ticket to the 86th-floor observation deck, said Detective John Sweeney, another police department spokesman. Sweeney did not know how the man got down to the 66th floor without a company-issued pass. Police also had no information on whether a suicide note was left behind.

Nothing can be written here that will do justice to this tragedy, so I am not even going to try.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

La Dee Da (that's the best I can come up with)

The rest of today went pretty well. No broken bones.

Tomorrow night is a girl from my seminary's wedding. She is marrying a chasseeeedish guy, so it should be pretty interesting. I can't wait to see a lot of people that are going to be there. I am going to Devora's for Shabbos. I am really excited for that, too.

I really wish I had something interesting to write, but I don't. I am just bored and thought I would post. Sorry if you were disappointed!

Have a good night.

My New Study Buddy

I had my meeting today and it was a lot better than I expected. Mind you, the math and psych are still an issue, but the woman I met with and I are going to be getting very close this semester. I am really excited. I have needed this kind of support since I got here.

I Just Want To Stay In Bed With My Pillow On My Head

Tired, tired, tired. Yesterday after school I went to get a haircut at the same place I went to last time. I went in and asked how much a haircut would be (to prevent any misunderstandings) and the woman told me it would be $25. They washed my hair and the dude started cutting it. When he was done, he asked if I wanted him to blow dry it straight. I, of course, said yes. It took a good while for him to dry my hair. When I went to pay, THEY CHARGED ME $63! WHAT?!?!?! Being me, of course, who has no backbone when it comes to things like this, emptied my wallet. I had nothing left. I was pretty upset. I went to the cafeteria and told Kenya (cashier at the caf, we're tight) what had happened. She was like, "Hinda, go back and get your money back." But, of course, I didn't. I told Kenya that he had given me his card and I am going to write them a letter. She took the card and called them pretending to be me. All the receptionist kept saying was, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I should have told you, etc." When Kenya explained that if she had known about the cost of drying hair, she wouldn't have done it. To this, the receptionist replied, "Oh, well we usually don't let styles like that air dry outside." Oh, okay, so it's a FORCED option? WHAT IS UP WITH THAT! I was not too happy about this.

What do I do when I'm not too happy? I go to Devora's. I got there a little after 9, and started my homework. I went to YU to help at the sale which I don't think I am going to do again. One of the guys in charge is from Boston and he didn't really like me. Everyone says he's the anal one. He's a real jerk. After that, I went back to Devora's, got my stuff and Tiff and went back. I was up until about 2:45 finishing all my work.

Oh! Today, I have my meeting about my math grade. I'm guessing that since I am having a meeting, that there is something I will be able to do about my grade. I wonder if she could help me with psych too. Hmmmm. Should be interesting. I am still kind of nervous though.

My friend from Belgium was supposed to come for our friend's wedding in April, and I just recently found out that she is coming NEXT THURSDAY! I am so excited!

Have a great day!