La la la la la la - la la la la la la KABOOM!

Yipes!

Okay - so ya all know about the new china hutch... it's close cousin can be found here: http://www.furnitureontheweb.com/NoFrame/items_direct/073585nf.html?adid=4--073585
Though there are 7 drawers instead of cabinets on the bottom.

So here's the problem - it's going to be dropped off on Friday. I don't think I can get off on Friday... I need someone to be here when it gets here. I'll leave a key with my neighbors if I have to, but I'd rather not have to!

If anyone is off work on Friday, and can let these people in and point to the wall and say 'right there' for me. That would be great!!

Thanks all!

Clubbing

o, after a hard day of shopping, i had a 'hard' night of clubbing. A BUNCH of friends were there: woodywindy, redshimma, kier_wyldwynd, ruth, exilian, marchoops - it was very cool. Lots of dancing, lots of flirting, and petting. (oh no poor me!) I had a great time, and I hope everyone else did too! I also got some really great pics!

Today, I'm cleaning out my curio cabinets and possibly disassembling them. I'm also moving the stuff on my walls around so that I have room for everything. :) It's going to be so pretty! I'm thinking of having a get together next Friday - but right now I'm not sure.

Thanks to Trehearn for picking out my outfit - everybody loved it,and yes I have pictures.

Two Minute Haggadah

http://www.slate.com/id/2139601/

Furniture

OH my goodness! I just bought a china hutch. A real china hutch! It cost about $25 more than a corner curio unit (which I've been saving for) so I couldn't pass it up. Now I just need to sell my two current curio units, and shift things around a bit to make room for it.

Anybody available to house-sit my place this Friday? I'll give my keys to neighbors if I have to, but I'd rather someone I know be there.

Oh, anybody looking for 2 used but in like new condition Ikea curio cabinets? Cheap. $30 ea? I"ll be posting it on some yard sale lists I'm on - and Craigs list. But I figured I'd put it up here first.

K - off to post!

Temple

So, my co-workers have taken to asking me what I'm doing every night because it's interesting stuff to them. Then it dawned on me that they're starting to know more about what I do than my friends. That's not good.

So, last night I went to Temple... like Jewish Temple, not Temple U. I've always been intersted as an intellectual pursuit, so I went to Temple Beth Shalom's Friday Evening Shabbot.

I was a bit late - I couldn't figure out how to get in! Then I almost walked in the VERY wrong door... then I came in after the first song...thing... okay I have no idea what I came in after!

The whole thing was in Hebrew, and was sung, and quite beautiful.

I had called friends to help me dress beforehand,but was still dressed totally wrong. I felt over dressed very very overdressed. I was one of 3 women in a skirt, and the only one in a long skirt. There were about 40 people there - 15 or so were women. They were intermingled with the men, which I found more confusing... read on for that fiasco. Most women were wearing long sleeves, but I was one of 3 with a head covering - one of which doing most of the singing to the... um... empty stage - with a table with stuff on it. No Star of David, but there was a carving of a tablet in the wall. And other than that I was lost.

Yes, I did do a head covering. I don't have a kerchief, but I do have a shawl that matched my outfit, that I was able to drape over my head and around my shoulders. Okay only person wearing anything like that. The girl singing was wearing a yamaca (excuse the spelling) and the other woman was wearing a hat.

I loved the songs/chants - dont' know what they're called. They were beautiful, and I tried to hum along at least, and say the words, as written (ebonic words were provided), I did a lot of reading. It was very uplifting. No 'You're bad and going to hell for being bad.' It was like singing a history lesson. It was neat. And pretty... so I guess it was pretty neat!

Anyway...the fiasco. I was raised in a Cathoic church, which then became a Fransiscan church. Okay. That's the background.

So I was not unprepared for the standing and sitting exercises. I was always about a beat late for the bowing... never did the bowing before, and I was quite lost when the segment would end and certain men would continue mumbling something. I was like, Uh...

There were also parts where just the men would stand. And parts where just some men would stand. I jumped, though didn't totally stand each time, except once. Oops.

Also during the Shabbot Shalom, it seemed that the men were saying something and the women something else. So I said the wrong thing a lot.

But I really liked the rabbi. He was upbeat and inviggorating, and would tranfer his speech from English to Hebrew, but I still could follow it. It was neat.

Then at the end, I waited on the side for him, and he came up and had a big smile and thanked me for coming - especially in the weather. Then he took my hand for a Shabbot Shalom, and very nicely said, "Yes, so thank you for coming. But, who are you?"

And I laughed and said my name, and that I have been pursuing Jeudism as an intellectual pursuit for about 7 years, and wanted to learn more, so I figured I'd show up." He seemed intrigued and flattered and asked me to come to the 3 hour service they were having today - which I missed. And said that I should call him and make an appointment and he'll talk to me for as long as I'd like. And I was very happy. He said that their Saturday Services would be more intellectually stimulating, but that I was welcomed to join them any Friday that I'd like.

So in the end I felt: invigorated, out of place, and very welcome. It was an odd - yet good - combination.

Also, he said the 2 minute [prayer said at Passover]. I wish I could find it. It was a hoot! Of course, not knowing that word is hindering my finding it. So if anybody does have it, could they send it to me? Also, just for saying: it took him 1 min and 45 sec to finish it!

Okay - off to AFR on Route 73 to buy furniture.

My babies turned 2!!

My babies are 2!! Okay, well technically Sandie's babies are two...and one. The twins turned 2 this past friday - and Sara turned 1 last month. They're so big! And cute!!!!

I got lots of Katie and Josie luvvin's when I arrived. They looked at me and got so smiley! *heart gushing*Lots of huggin's kissin's and cuteness followed - Aunt Niki being the least of the cute!The first thing I got was a big toothy grin and a 'Hi Niki!'. :)

Then I got fitted with a proper name, "Niki-feen"

Josie is Josie-feen
Katie is Kath-e-leen
Sandie is Mommy-feen
Sam is Daddy-feenS
ara is Fwawwa-feenand I am Niki-feen

Cuteness - we're talking serious cuteness!

And their mommy didn't kill me for getting them their first 'little black dresses' - or at least that's what Daddy Sam was calling them!I also got them little easter surprises, which included bonnets, gloves, purses and bunnies - just can't go wrong with that! I have pictures, they'll get posted soon!It was great seeing everyone too. I've missed way too muchof the Russell family for way too long! :)

YAY