Happy New Year!
It's going to be a strange beginning to the new year. My son has bought a house and will be moving out within 2 weeks. The cat is happy. I am very pleased for him. He'll be 27 this year and should be out on his own.
I thought that I would give ideas for a healthier New Year.
First Tip: Think Sampler Sizes
In order to taste everything at the Rosh Hashanah table, have a small amount of everything - like apples and honey and apple challah; have just one matzo ball in the soup; enjoy the brisket in moderation; and have the fruit compote instead of the honey cake.
Second Tip: Lighten up the dishes that are rich and at the same time particularly desirable and comforting (and easy to over eat).
A healthy recipe for tzimmes:
Carrot Tzimmes
(Carrots are sliced into coins and eaten as a symbol of prosperity and good luck in the New Year)
1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup seedless golden raisins
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Minced fresh parsley
Mix everything except the parsley together in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer gently until the carrots are crisp tender, about 25 minutes. Remove the cover from the pan, raise the heat and cook the carrots until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce is thickened, about five minutes. Sprinkle the parsley on top and serve.
Serves 6
Per Serving: 125 calories, 2 g protein, 26 g carbohydrate, 2.5 g fat, .2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3.3 g fiber, 42 mg sodium (not including salt). Percent calories from fat: 17%
Light Changes: (In order to bring down the calories and grams of sugar a bit). Take out a tablespoon of non-dairy margarine and upped the orange juice by a tablespoon. You can also cut the honey and brown sugar in half (from 3 tablespoons to 1 1/2) and decreased the raisins from 1/2 cup to 1/3 cup.
Potato Kugel
1 large onion, grated
6 large potatoes, peeled and grated (about 1.75 pounds of potatoes before peeling)
2 eggs well beaten (higher omega-3 if available)
1/2 cup egg substitute (if you don't want to use egg substitute increase the higher omega-3 eggs from 2 to 4)
1/4 cup canola oil (in the old days this used to be schmaltz - rendered chicken fat!)
1/4 cup double strength or condensed chicken broth (low sodium chicken broth can be used)
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grate the onion first. Grate the potatoes and add to the onion to stop the potatoes from turning brown. Further chop half of this mixture with the blade of the food processor. This makes the kugel less dense. Mix everything together. Pour into a 2-3 quart rectangular casserole dish that has been coated with canola cooking spray. Bake for about an hour or until very brown and crusty. Cut in to squares to serve.
Serves 8
Per Serving: 187 calories, 5.5 g protein, 23 g carbohydrate, 8.3 g fat, .9 g saturated fat, 53 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 91 mg sodium (not including salt to taste). Calories from fat: 39%
Light Changes: You can cut the oil in half (from 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup) and specified canola oil which is higher in mono-unsaturated fats and plant omega-3s. You can add some double strength chicken broth to compensate for the moisture loss and to add a nice chicken flavor. You can also replaced half of the eggs called for with a nice egg substitute (like Egg Beaters) and suggested higher omega-3 eggs are used if available.
Not so healthy but very tasty sounding:
Sliced Lamb In Apricot Mushroom Sauce
4 pounds lamb, cubed
2 onions diced
3 cloves garlic, whole or minced
1 pound mushroom, sliced
2/3 cup apricot preserved
1 cup dry red wine
½ cup water
¼ tsp. Pepper
2 bay leaves
Preheat oven to 350.
Place vegetables, apricot preserves, liquid, and seasoning into a medium bowl. Mix until combined. Place meat in roasting pan and pour apricot mixture over it. Bake covered for 2 to 2 ½ hours.
Check meat during baking. You may want to mix it so that the flavor of juice gets well absorbed. When done, remove from oven and allow to cool. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 300. Return meat to sauce and reheat for 30 minutes. Serve warm.
Excerpted from Spice and Spirit, The Complete Kosher Jewish Cookbook, published by Lubavitch Women's Cookbook Publications
The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.
May You have a Happy and Healthy Year.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Olympics
Has anyone else been glued to the television watching the Olympics these past 2 weeks? I swear I must have lost weight and voice with the straining, pushing and yelling as I urged the athletes on and I wasn't partial to any team. Well, okay, I'm fibbing. I cheered for the USA, Team GB (what a horrible name) and of course for Israel.
Taking Israel first. Mazel Tov to Shahar Zubari for winning Israel's only medal at this Olympics.
We still have today and tomorrow for the Games so I am sure that many more medals will be won by the USA and Team GB.
And hasn't the British team done well this time? So far they have won 18 Gold, 13 Silver and 13 Bronze.
Rebecca Adlington clinched her second gold medal of the Beijing Games in the 800m freestyle. I do hope that someone in power does recognize her with an award, OBE sounds nice. The cyclists Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, and Rebecca Romero have done well also.
Sailor Ben Aislie did so well on the water.
It came as a surprise that Christine Ohuruogu win the Gold for the 400 meter. She has caused so much controversy with her lifetime Olympic ban for missing 3 drug tests. Should she have taken part? I think not.
Jamaica has been fantastic with Usain Bolt and the 3 women who won the 100 meter race Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart. Veronica Campbell-Brown won the 200.
Oops, excuse me for yelling but I had to yell for the USA team in the Women's 4 x 400 Meter Relay. Sandra Richards really had to work for it but she did beat the Russian. *happy dance*
So Michael Phelps beat Mark Spitz's record. *sigh* Congratulations to Michael, well done.
I remember 1972 and being glued to the tv then too. I had just come back from a year at Tel Aviv University. Cheering Mark on, well he is a nice Jewish boy, and then watching the horrible events of what was happening inside and outside of the Athlete's Village.
So in writing this article about the Olympics I have to mention what happened in Munich.
On the morning of September 5, with six days left in the Games, the worst tragedy in Olympic history hit. Eight Arab terrorists stormed into the Olympic village and raided the apartment building that housed the Israeli contingent. Two Israeli athletes were killed and nine more were seized as hostages. They demanded the release of over 200 Palestinians serving time in Israeli jails, along with two renowned German terrorists.
After a day of unsuccessful negotiations, the terrorists collected the hostages and headed for the military airport in Munich for a flight back to the Middle East. At the airport, German sharpshooters opened fire, killing three of the Palestinians. A horrifying gun battle ensued, claiming the lives of all nine of the hostages, along with one policeman and two terrorists.
The first 2 Israelis murdered were Joseph Romano and Moshe Weinberg.
Hostages killed at the airport
(middle row, L-R) wrestling referee Yossef Gutfreund, age 40; American-born weightlifter David Berger, 28; wrestler Mark Slavin, 18; and weightlifting judge Yacov Springer, 51.
(bottom row, L-R) weightlifter Ze'ev Friedman, 28; track coach Amitzur Shapira, 40; wrestler Eliezer Halfin, 24; shooting coach Kehat Shorr, 53; and fencing coach Andre Spitzer, 27.
At 3 a.m., a drawn and teary-eyed Jim McKay, who had been reporting the drama throughout the day as part of ABC's Olympic coverage, announced: “They're all gone.”
Five of the terrorists were killed along with one policeman, and three were captured. A little over a month later, on Oct. 29, a Lufthansa jet was hijacked by terrorists demanding that the Munich killers be released.
The Germans capitulated and the terrorists were let go, but an Israeli assassination squad was assigned to track them down along with those responsible for planning the massacre. According to George Jonas in Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team, eight of the 11 men targeted for death were killed. Of the remaining three, one died of natural causes and the other two were assassinated, but it is not known for sure if they were killed by Israeli agents.
Typical that the Germans let the murderers of Jews free. Even more disgusting was the fact that the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes was not considered sufficiently serious to merit canceling or postponing the Olympics. “Incredibly, they're going on with it,” Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote at the time. “It's almost like having a dance at Dachau.”
Would the Olympics have been canceled if another country's athletes been horribly murdered? I believe it would have. It's a shame that the German government has never outgrown it's 'It's only Jews' mentality.
A memorial ceremony was held the first Monday in Beijing to honor the 11 Israeli athletes.
The ceremony was organized by the Israeli embassy in the city and the Israel Olympic Committee at the Hilton hotel.
Hundreds attended the event, including representatives of Israel's athletic delegations, and Science, Culture and Sport Minister Raleb Majadele.
A significant number of foreign delegates, military attaches and Olympic officials were in attendance as well. Among the guests of honor was Juan Antonio Samaranch, International Olympic Committee president from 1980 to 2001, and Alex Giladi, Israel's delegate to the IOC.
For the past 36 years, the IOC has denied any culpability in the athletes' deaths. ON Monday Samaranch gave a heartfelt speech about keeping the slain sportsmen's memories alive, describing the massacre as the "blackest moment in the history of the Olympic movement."
While in office, neither Samaranch nor his successor, Jacques Rogge, made even the slightest effort to commemorate the victims. Those most hurt by the committee's inaction were the families of the slain athletes.
Since Munich, widows Anki Spitzer and Ilana Romano have tried to persuade IOC officials to erect a monument to the slain athletes in the city's Olympic Village.
On Monday, Romano pleaded with Giladi, who was present at the 1972 Games as a broadcaster, that the "next ceremony be held under the Olympics' five-ring banner."
Spitzer spoke in English about the families' desire not for vengeance, but for peace of mind, and of the difficulties the widows have faced in raising 14 children between them as orphans.
She also leveled damning accusations at Rogge and his predecessors.
"The sons, husbands and fathers who were murdered weren't tourists or bystanders, but part of the Olympic family. But the Olympic family doesn't recognize them," she said, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Despite the emotional pleas, the ceremony will likely remain an Israeli-organized event at the London Games in 2012, and indeed for the foreseeable future.
So now the Olympics will come to London in the year 2012. It should be interesting to see how this develops. I do want to go and watch some of the events in London. Apparently my town is applying to be one of the places where the athletes can practice before the Games.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Disgusted at Obama
According to Arutz Sheva today:
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign seems to have purposely leaked the contents of the note that he placed in the Kotel, web magazine Israel Insider wrote Tuesday. While Israel's Hebrew newspaper Maariv came under fire for publishing the note, "it now appears that Maariv had collaborated with the Obama campaign in getting the 'private' prayer, with its 'modest' supplication to the Lord, out to the public, buffing his Christian credentials and showing his "humility," the web magazine said.
Last Friday, on the morrow of Obama's visit to the Kotel, Maariv published a close-up picture of the note written by Obama to G-d, supposedly after a yeshiva boy took it from the crack between the Kotel stones in which Obama deposited it. Maariv's competitor Yediot Acharonot slammed the paper for violating Obama's privacy.
Filched or released for publication?
In a statement issued following the public outcry over the leak, Maariv said that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put it in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem." A third newspaper, Haaretz, quoted Maariv as saying that "Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem."
Based on these statements by Maariv, Israel Insider concluded that the Obama campaign "managed the event brilliantly, if deceptively, getting the double benefit of appearing to be victimized by the invasive Israeli press and prayer-thieving Jew while at the same time leaking out his humble Christian plea to the Lord." The report noted that by the week's end, "a (relatively) slick video appeared on [public video website] YouTube that blended Obama's Western Wall prayer with various church scenes, crosses aplenty, a dove of peace, and a soundtrack based on Amazing Grace. The video closes with a "vote" button and an invitation to visit the official campaign website."
Apparently unaware that the leaking of the note was coordinated by the Obama campaign and Maariv, Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz called the publication a "sacrilegious action" which "deserves sharp condemnation and represents a desecration of the holy site." He stated: "Notes which are placed in the Western Wall are between the person and his Maker; Heaven forbid that one should read them or use them in any way. The custom of placing notes between the stones of the Western Wall is ancient and is used as a means of expression by a person praying to his Creator."
Maariv's editors, Doron Galezer and Ruth Yovel, are considered to be hard-core leftists. The paper said that it was "pleased" with its "journalistic accomplishment."
"In any case," Maariv added, "since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy."
Campaign denies
An Obama campaign spokesman claimed that the campaign hadn't approved the publication of any kind of prayer note. "Prayer notes at the Wall should remain private," a campaign aide said.
Israeli Channel 2 TV reported Sunday that the note was returned to the Kotel. It showed an interview with an anonymous yeshiva student, whose face was not shown, who did not want to say how he got possession of the note and claimed that the note was filched from the Kotel by a yeshiva student as a prank.
Call for boycott
Jerusalem lawyer Shahar Alon asked Attorney General Menachem Mazuz Monday to order a police investigation into the removal and publication of Obama's note.
"By making the note public," Alon wrote to Mazuz, "Maariv violated the law protecting holy sites, several clauses in the penal code and also infringed upon the basic rights of a person's honor and freedom."
Alon also initiated a boycott of the newspaper. In a public letter, he called on all who felt that Maariv had desecrated the holiness of the Kotel to refrain from purchasing the newspaper.
And we are supposed to vote for a man who mocks the Kotel? Who thinks that our prayers to G-d is a way to get votes? If any American Jew votes for him then they should be ashamed of themselves. "The Maariv" should also be ashamed of themselves to have let this happen.
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign seems to have purposely leaked the contents of the note that he placed in the Kotel, web magazine Israel Insider wrote Tuesday. While Israel's Hebrew newspaper Maariv came under fire for publishing the note, "it now appears that Maariv had collaborated with the Obama campaign in getting the 'private' prayer, with its 'modest' supplication to the Lord, out to the public, buffing his Christian credentials and showing his "humility," the web magazine said.
Last Friday, on the morrow of Obama's visit to the Kotel, Maariv published a close-up picture of the note written by Obama to G-d, supposedly after a yeshiva boy took it from the crack between the Kotel stones in which Obama deposited it. Maariv's competitor Yediot Acharonot slammed the paper for violating Obama's privacy.
Filched or released for publication?
In a statement issued following the public outcry over the leak, Maariv said that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put it in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem." A third newspaper, Haaretz, quoted Maariv as saying that "Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem."
Based on these statements by Maariv, Israel Insider concluded that the Obama campaign "managed the event brilliantly, if deceptively, getting the double benefit of appearing to be victimized by the invasive Israeli press and prayer-thieving Jew while at the same time leaking out his humble Christian plea to the Lord." The report noted that by the week's end, "a (relatively) slick video appeared on [public video website] YouTube that blended Obama's Western Wall prayer with various church scenes, crosses aplenty, a dove of peace, and a soundtrack based on Amazing Grace. The video closes with a "vote" button and an invitation to visit the official campaign website."
Apparently unaware that the leaking of the note was coordinated by the Obama campaign and Maariv, Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz called the publication a "sacrilegious action" which "deserves sharp condemnation and represents a desecration of the holy site." He stated: "Notes which are placed in the Western Wall are between the person and his Maker; Heaven forbid that one should read them or use them in any way. The custom of placing notes between the stones of the Western Wall is ancient and is used as a means of expression by a person praying to his Creator."
Maariv's editors, Doron Galezer and Ruth Yovel, are considered to be hard-core leftists. The paper said that it was "pleased" with its "journalistic accomplishment."
"In any case," Maariv added, "since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy."
Campaign denies
An Obama campaign spokesman claimed that the campaign hadn't approved the publication of any kind of prayer note. "Prayer notes at the Wall should remain private," a campaign aide said.
Israeli Channel 2 TV reported Sunday that the note was returned to the Kotel. It showed an interview with an anonymous yeshiva student, whose face was not shown, who did not want to say how he got possession of the note and claimed that the note was filched from the Kotel by a yeshiva student as a prank.
Call for boycott
Jerusalem lawyer Shahar Alon asked Attorney General Menachem Mazuz Monday to order a police investigation into the removal and publication of Obama's note.
"By making the note public," Alon wrote to Mazuz, "Maariv violated the law protecting holy sites, several clauses in the penal code and also infringed upon the basic rights of a person's honor and freedom."
Alon also initiated a boycott of the newspaper. In a public letter, he called on all who felt that Maariv had desecrated the holiness of the Kotel to refrain from purchasing the newspaper.
And we are supposed to vote for a man who mocks the Kotel? Who thinks that our prayers to G-d is a way to get votes? If any American Jew votes for him then they should be ashamed of themselves. "The Maariv" should also be ashamed of themselves to have let this happen.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Heart breaking News Today
The bitterly contested prisoner exchange has developed into one of Israel's most riveting and painful episodes, while Hizbullah and the PA celebrate victory and renew their threat to kidnap more IDF soldiers.
The conclusion of the prisoner exchange began Tuesday night with the release of child-murderer Samir Kuntar and four of his co-terrorists, and continued through Wednesday morning with the release of the coffins of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, all caught on camera for the nation and the world to see.
To the families of the two captured IDF soldiers, the news that their sons are dead is a tragedy, while to others in Israel the prospect of handing over alive-and-well murderers of innocent Jews in exchange for dead bodies is a travesty. For those who support terrorism, the release is being hailed as a victory for Hizbullah and the struggle to destroy Israel, coupled with an admission of defeat from the Jewish state.
As images of the coffins of Regev and Goldwasser appeared on television, cries could be heard coming from the Regev family home when they suddenly realized what they feared most: They would never see their son Eldad alive again.
Once the news he was dead began to spread, the area around the Regev residence became quickly crowded with family members and friends of Eldad, who gathered outside his home to show support for the grieving parents and to honor the memory of their loved one. The visitors began a vigil outside his Kiryat Motzkin home as they lit memorial candles for Eldad. Another vigil formed at the Goldwasser home.
Eldad Regev's aunt, Hanna, collapsed when she saw the images of her nephew's coffin, and had to be treated by paramedics who were standing by.
Shlomo Goldwasser, father of Ehud Goldwasser, had defiant words for those who killed his son. "If Hizbullah's great achievement is the release of Kuntar, who is nothing but a repulsive murderer, then I pity them."
The Regev and Goldwasser families have quietly accepted the fate of their slain sons and expressed gratitude for Israel's willingness to hand over the terrorists in order to get their boys back, dead or alive. However, there are many who have strongly opposed the swap, including top military and intelligence officials who urged Prime Minister Olmert's cabinet to reject the deal, considering it a big mistake for Israel.
Now what about Gilad Shalit?
Gilad Shalit (born 28 August 1986) is a soldier who was captured in a cross border raid on the crossing Kerem Shalom from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006 and has been held hostage by Hamas since.
And we mustn't forget Ron Arad
Ron Arad was born on May 5, 1958 in Israel. He is the son of Batya and the late Dov Arad, and is the oldest of their three sons. Arad, an air-force navigator in an F-4 Phantom jet, had just completed his first year of chemical engineering at The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa when he was called up for reserve duty. On October 6, 1986 Arad was captured by members of the Amal Shi’ite militia after bailing out of his crippled warplane over the Lebanese city of Sidon.
When negotiations for Arad’s release collapsed in 1988, Arad was “sold” by Amal security chief Mustafa Dirani to Iranian backed forces in Lebanon. Since that time there has been a great deal of contradictory information regarding his fate and whereabouts. Israeli intelligence sources have maintained that Arad is being held in Iran or Lebanon by Iranian backed forces.
The Iranians have never publicly admitted to holding Arad or to having any information regarding his condition or location. Over the years many foreign governments have pressured Iran on the matter. Particularly the German government has continually attempted to utilize its close relationship with Iran to broker deals for Arad’s release, but without success to date.
For years there have been rumors if he is alive or dead, the latest says that he's dead.
While it is good that our boys finally came home it is Israel's shame that the terrorists get off so lightly. Why should Israel give up so much and get little or nothing in return.
Olmert should be gotten rid of and a stronger pro Israel PM should be in office. He is a disgrace. I'm sure that the next heinous act he does will be signing away more precious Jewish land.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
New York, New York! Days 2 & 3
I was excited when I woke up because I knew that I was going to meet some of my fellow Hosts from Prevention plus Irina (Community Coordinator) and Linda (Community Manager). It turned out that I also met other members of the team which was really nice.
Due to wonky phones and missing calls I missed meeting up with sandwichmom and her daughter, Sara, before we had to be at the Rodale building. I caught a cab and must of had one of the drivers from hell. I got into said cab. He got out, went around and checked all the doors. He then got back in and because he faffed about we missed the light so sat there for ages. When we started he began to move around a cloth he had on the steering wheel. he then got a personal phone call. I couldn't place the language though. Phone call ended (isn't that illegal here in the states?) and then he stops across from a food vendor and motioned that he wanted coffee. Gee, I thought his job was to get me where I wanted to go. He gets his coffee and wow, we're off.
Driving up and down the streets I really hoped that he knew where he was going and...he did! Finally got to the Rodale offices in one piece a few minutes later than meet-up time.
I went in and I could see on my left some women sitting and standing and thought ah ha! I could guess who Linda was, she of the clipboard, and Molasses and Irina because they use their photos as their avatars, but the others? I have to admit that Iz and Boz looked so familiar although we have never met before. And guys, I am not a celebrity.
We waited for sandwichmom and her daughter. I expected SM to be short and have long hair. Surprise when this short woman with short hair came in. She had been threatening to cut it and did on Sunday. It really looked nice.
While we had been waiting for SM and her daughter we had a quick tour of the Prevention floors.
It was a very calming place with light green walls. They even have a yoga room which impressed me. As we walked around we met staff members and it was nice to be able to put faces to names. We all ended up in a conference room where Judi managed to call in to listen and to express her opinions. I really wanted to ask her how T's peas were coming along.
We sat around a round table and introduced ourselves and explained how we found Prevention . I had found it in April 2004 after I read about 'The South Beach Diet' in the Daily Mail, a British national newspaper which ran articles about it for about a week. I 'Googled' the SBD and found Prevention and have been there ever since, first as a poster and now as a Senior Community Host.
So we discussed what was happening with the Prevention message boards and what will happen in the future. We also got a goody bag with Prevention items in it. Love those goody bags. After the meeting we went to an Indian restaurant for lunch where we enjoyed the buffet. And yes some of us had dessert, a wonderful sorbet which actually came in the frozen fruit. Mine was peach and it came in a half frozen peach while the others had theirs arrive in a half of a small pineapple, really clever. I think Boz was the rebel and had rice pudding.
So here we are
Linda
Irina
Sara and Molasses
SM
Iz
After lunch some of us caught an air conditioned cab and the rest walked to their destinations. WALKED!! In that heat. I hear that SM and Sara gave up after a bit. It was just too darn hot and humid.
When I got back to my hotel room I was shocked to see that my window was open and a hose was running from the radiator to out the window. I got in touch with the electrician who said that the plumbing had broken down and that I had to change rooms. *sigh* So they got in touch with the desk and then they said to come down and get a new key for my new room. I was already there. So I got the key, thankfully the room was on the same floor. I packed up and moved. The room was similar but without the same view, it was closer to the elevator though.
I then decided to walk around the block and see what's there. I found the Manhattan Mall
and wasn't too impressed with it so walked out and right across the street was 'Jack's 99 Cents Store' 
It was crowded and I wasn't in the mood for the scrum so I left and continued around the block. I did go into one of those hat stores and bought a hat for Ben and a pink 'New York City Princess' tee shirt for a friend's granddaughter.
I ended back at Macys and since my dinner plans had changed I bought another salad and fruit for dinner. I ended up taking a shower, eating, and then fell asleep around 6pm and then didn't wake until the thunder woke me up around 2am. They had terrible thunderstorms during the night and there was a lot of damage in New York and New Jersey. I went back to sleep and then woke up at 6. I guess the heat and the humidity is killing me plus I haven't been having my naps.
Day 3
So woke up early and listened to the news where the damage in some parts of the 2 states was bad. Then they said that NJ Transit was having problems. I thought, okay, but that's not me, until they said that there were delays getting in and out of the city. I had arranged for my parents to pick me up after my dad saw the doctor so I had to time my arrival for theirs. Thinking that I don't know how the system works at Penn Station, nor the amount of people or how delayed I would be, I set off much earlier than I had originally planned. I thought so if I am early back at Hamilton then I can just sit in the air conditioned waiting room.
It was a breeze getting my ticket, waiting for the train, which wasn't late by much and getting back to Hamilton. Then the 2 hour wait started. Finally I saw my parents' car with my youngest nephew driving and dad in the car. We got back to my parents' home in about 40 minutes where my sister and her grandbaby were waiting.
And that's my New York City Adventure.
I have decided that I am going to sneak into Macys and live there. Why not? I bet there are others who already do. ;)
Due to wonky phones and missing calls I missed meeting up with sandwichmom and her daughter, Sara, before we had to be at the Rodale building. I caught a cab and must of had one of the drivers from hell. I got into said cab. He got out, went around and checked all the doors. He then got back in and because he faffed about we missed the light so sat there for ages. When we started he began to move around a cloth he had on the steering wheel. he then got a personal phone call. I couldn't place the language though. Phone call ended (isn't that illegal here in the states?) and then he stops across from a food vendor and motioned that he wanted coffee. Gee, I thought his job was to get me where I wanted to go. He gets his coffee and wow, we're off.
Driving up and down the streets I really hoped that he knew where he was going and...he did! Finally got to the Rodale offices in one piece a few minutes later than meet-up time.
I went in and I could see on my left some women sitting and standing and thought ah ha! I could guess who Linda was, she of the clipboard, and Molasses and Irina because they use their photos as their avatars, but the others? I have to admit that Iz and Boz looked so familiar although we have never met before. And guys, I am not a celebrity.
We waited for sandwichmom and her daughter. I expected SM to be short and have long hair. Surprise when this short woman with short hair came in. She had been threatening to cut it and did on Sunday. It really looked nice.
While we had been waiting for SM and her daughter we had a quick tour of the Prevention floors.
It was a very calming place with light green walls. They even have a yoga room which impressed me. As we walked around we met staff members and it was nice to be able to put faces to names. We all ended up in a conference room where Judi managed to call in to listen and to express her opinions. I really wanted to ask her how T's peas were coming along.
We sat around a round table and introduced ourselves and explained how we found Prevention . I had found it in April 2004 after I read about 'The South Beach Diet' in the Daily Mail, a British national newspaper which ran articles about it for about a week. I 'Googled' the SBD and found Prevention and have been there ever since, first as a poster and now as a Senior Community Host.
So we discussed what was happening with the Prevention message boards and what will happen in the future. We also got a goody bag with Prevention items in it. Love those goody bags. After the meeting we went to an Indian restaurant for lunch where we enjoyed the buffet. And yes some of us had dessert, a wonderful sorbet which actually came in the frozen fruit. Mine was peach and it came in a half frozen peach while the others had theirs arrive in a half of a small pineapple, really clever. I think Boz was the rebel and had rice pudding.
So here we are
Linda
Irina
Sara and Molasses
SM
Iz
After lunch some of us caught an air conditioned cab and the rest walked to their destinations. WALKED!! In that heat. I hear that SM and Sara gave up after a bit. It was just too darn hot and humid.
When I got back to my hotel room I was shocked to see that my window was open and a hose was running from the radiator to out the window. I got in touch with the electrician who said that the plumbing had broken down and that I had to change rooms. *sigh* So they got in touch with the desk and then they said to come down and get a new key for my new room. I was already there. So I got the key, thankfully the room was on the same floor. I packed up and moved. The room was similar but without the same view, it was closer to the elevator though.
I then decided to walk around the block and see what's there. I found the Manhattan Mall
and wasn't too impressed with it so walked out and right across the street was 'Jack's 99 Cents Store' 
It was crowded and I wasn't in the mood for the scrum so I left and continued around the block. I did go into one of those hat stores and bought a hat for Ben and a pink 'New York City Princess' tee shirt for a friend's granddaughter.
I ended back at Macys and since my dinner plans had changed I bought another salad and fruit for dinner. I ended up taking a shower, eating, and then fell asleep around 6pm and then didn't wake until the thunder woke me up around 2am. They had terrible thunderstorms during the night and there was a lot of damage in New York and New Jersey. I went back to sleep and then woke up at 6. I guess the heat and the humidity is killing me plus I haven't been having my naps.
Day 3
So woke up early and listened to the news where the damage in some parts of the 2 states was bad. Then they said that NJ Transit was having problems. I thought, okay, but that's not me, until they said that there were delays getting in and out of the city. I had arranged for my parents to pick me up after my dad saw the doctor so I had to time my arrival for theirs. Thinking that I don't know how the system works at Penn Station, nor the amount of people or how delayed I would be, I set off much earlier than I had originally planned. I thought so if I am early back at Hamilton then I can just sit in the air conditioned waiting room.
It was a breeze getting my ticket, waiting for the train, which wasn't late by much and getting back to Hamilton. Then the 2 hour wait started. Finally I saw my parents' car with my youngest nephew driving and dad in the car. We got back to my parents' home in about 40 minutes where my sister and her grandbaby were waiting.
And that's my New York City Adventure.
I have decided that I am going to sneak into Macys and live there. Why not? I bet there are others who already do. ;)
Friday, June 13, 2008
New York, New York! Day 1
My kind of town, New York is.
When I planned this trip to the states I wanted to make sure that I met Norma, a descartesbabe that I have been writing to since 2004 at the Prevention message board, on The South Beach Diet forum. So to do that I had to go to New York City, somewhere I haven't been since applying to Beth Israel Nursing School in 1967 (oh they rejected me after taking their cockamamy psych tests. So I resent authority? Ha!)
I looked on the internet to see what hotels were around Penn Station so my sister, who originally was going with me, wouldn't have to walk far. I found the Hotel Pennsylvania and booked 2 nights for us. At the last moment my sister said that she couldn't go so I went alone.
Norma and I made plans that we would meet in the lobby of my hotel at 4:45pm after she finished work.
So on June 9th, Dad and I left the house about 8:55am and got to the train station at 9:45 - not bad for getting lost once. It was just Dad and me because Mom was still feeling poorly so we left her sleeping. I think that Dad might try to persuade her to go to the doctor if she is still feeling bad.
We drove to Hamilton New Jersey and a one way fare from Hamilton, NJ to NY Penn Station was $12. The Penn Station code is 000.
This was the local train stopping at every town but it was interesting. We left at 10:09. It was nice because the train was cool.
The ticket guy came, punched my ticket, kept it and then replaced it with another ticket which had lots of numbers and it was place under a clip in the seat next to me. I was sitting on a side seat with my suitcase.
We got into Penn Station and I had no idea of where to go. A nice conductor did carry my case up the stairs and directed me to the right exit. Wow! The hotel was literally right across the station.
So I went in and attempted to register. Thankfully they let me register early, it was only after 12 and normally the time is 3pm. So I caught one of 8 elevators (lifts) to room 1083. I was told that it was a bit of a walk from the elevator but I did have a view of The Empire State Building. Well, I did but not of all the floors.
The room was ok but no fridge, I guess I am spoiled by the casino hotels in Atlantic City. I figured out that I can place my Byetta pen on the sloping cold air vents to make sure that it kept cold. I hung up what ever and then went out to find Macy's.
The doorman (a miserable git) pointed the way. That was only a block away. I went into the building, it was so cool inside. Oh, did I mention that there was a heat wave?
I could only find the 'Men's Store' country mouse that I am. I walked around and then out thinking, maybe there's another store for women (are you laughing at me?). So I went back into the 'Men's Store' and finally found the board with all the departments. Aha! The department that I wanted was on the 7th floor. The store is huge!! Plus there were different eateries within the store. A MacDonald's in the kiddie floor?
There was also a 'Starbucks' and an 'Aunt Anne'. What saved me was 'Cucina&Co in the Cellar @ Macy's'.
So I wandered around the 7th floor and ended up buying 3 tops. I did realise that I left my discount card back at my parents so I went to the Tourist Information Center and got a tourist card with 11% off of my purchases. I went to one of the men's floors and bought Ben a shirt of a lizard smoking a cigar. I then went from floor 7 and hit each floor just to see what was what.
I went back to the hotel and got ready to go down to meet Norma. I went down to the lobby at 4:30 and went towards the benches that are there and I sat down next to an Israeli couple so I could listen to their conversation (Hey, it's good practice for my Hebrew) ;) As I sat down I heard, 'Hi Carol'. It was Norma on the other side of me!! She looks exactly like her photos. She is also a very sweet and caring person.
Us
We ended up at Lindy's over a glass of ice tea and talked and talked. Sadly she had to go earlier than she intended because she was worried due to a fire knocking out the power in her apartment. So she left and I went back to my room.
A little later I thought that I would go back to Macy's and to the cellar to get a salad from the salad buffet in 'Cucina&Co'. It was quite nice and I also bought some fruit for pud.
I ended up taking a shower, reading a book that i bought from Border's earlier and then went to bed.
End of Day in the Big Apple.
When I planned this trip to the states I wanted to make sure that I met Norma, a descartesbabe that I have been writing to since 2004 at the Prevention message board, on The South Beach Diet forum. So to do that I had to go to New York City, somewhere I haven't been since applying to Beth Israel Nursing School in 1967 (oh they rejected me after taking their cockamamy psych tests. So I resent authority? Ha!)
I looked on the internet to see what hotels were around Penn Station so my sister, who originally was going with me, wouldn't have to walk far. I found the Hotel Pennsylvania and booked 2 nights for us. At the last moment my sister said that she couldn't go so I went alone.
Norma and I made plans that we would meet in the lobby of my hotel at 4:45pm after she finished work.
So on June 9th, Dad and I left the house about 8:55am and got to the train station at 9:45 - not bad for getting lost once. It was just Dad and me because Mom was still feeling poorly so we left her sleeping. I think that Dad might try to persuade her to go to the doctor if she is still feeling bad.
We drove to Hamilton New Jersey and a one way fare from Hamilton, NJ to NY Penn Station was $12. The Penn Station code is 000.
This was the local train stopping at every town but it was interesting. We left at 10:09. It was nice because the train was cool.
The ticket guy came, punched my ticket, kept it and then replaced it with another ticket which had lots of numbers and it was place under a clip in the seat next to me. I was sitting on a side seat with my suitcase.
We got into Penn Station and I had no idea of where to go. A nice conductor did carry my case up the stairs and directed me to the right exit. Wow! The hotel was literally right across the station.
So I went in and attempted to register. Thankfully they let me register early, it was only after 12 and normally the time is 3pm. So I caught one of 8 elevators (lifts) to room 1083. I was told that it was a bit of a walk from the elevator but I did have a view of The Empire State Building. Well, I did but not of all the floors.
The room was ok but no fridge, I guess I am spoiled by the casino hotels in Atlantic City. I figured out that I can place my Byetta pen on the sloping cold air vents to make sure that it kept cold. I hung up what ever and then went out to find Macy's.
The doorman (a miserable git) pointed the way. That was only a block away. I went into the building, it was so cool inside. Oh, did I mention that there was a heat wave?
I could only find the 'Men's Store' country mouse that I am. I walked around and then out thinking, maybe there's another store for women (are you laughing at me?). So I went back into the 'Men's Store' and finally found the board with all the departments. Aha! The department that I wanted was on the 7th floor. The store is huge!! Plus there were different eateries within the store. A MacDonald's in the kiddie floor?
There was also a 'Starbucks' and an 'Aunt Anne'. What saved me was 'Cucina&Co in the Cellar @ Macy's'.
So I wandered around the 7th floor and ended up buying 3 tops. I did realise that I left my discount card back at my parents so I went to the Tourist Information Center and got a tourist card with 11% off of my purchases. I went to one of the men's floors and bought Ben a shirt of a lizard smoking a cigar. I then went from floor 7 and hit each floor just to see what was what.
I went back to the hotel and got ready to go down to meet Norma. I went down to the lobby at 4:30 and went towards the benches that are there and I sat down next to an Israeli couple so I could listen to their conversation (Hey, it's good practice for my Hebrew) ;) As I sat down I heard, 'Hi Carol'. It was Norma on the other side of me!! She looks exactly like her photos. She is also a very sweet and caring person.
Us
We ended up at Lindy's over a glass of ice tea and talked and talked. Sadly she had to go earlier than she intended because she was worried due to a fire knocking out the power in her apartment. So she left and I went back to my room.
A little later I thought that I would go back to Macy's and to the cellar to get a salad from the salad buffet in 'Cucina&Co'. It was quite nice and I also bought some fruit for pud.
I ended up taking a shower, reading a book that i bought from Border's earlier and then went to bed.
End of Day in the Big Apple.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Moorestown Day!!
Yesterday was the annual Moorestown Day and they had a street fair and a race going on. My sister rented a spot and we put up a tent and displayed her wares.
Shelia, our family's neighbor and like a second mom to my sister came along to help.
My sister has a tent which really came in handy because it was so hot and humid outside that it gave us shade. We had 3 tables full of products. It looked like we were the only ones selling animal tee shirts and towels (more about the towels later). We also had tees hanging.
Marla (my sister) putting out tees.
Tees
The jewelry table
Can anyone name this breed of dog?
My brother-in-law, Ken
My nephew William
The towels which my sister embroiders
As we sat there this tall guy came up and he looked very happy. It seems that we were the only ones selling towels and he was desperate for one because he was sweating so heavily. So he bought one.
One of the stalls
I missed the actual contest.Some of the runners
Some of the visitors
Rumor has it that the stalls that were further up the street and nearer the food did better than we did. One stall holder told my sister that she made over $300 and then we hear her tell her daughters that she did badly, so she told a fib to my sister.
We had take away from a new Japanese restaurant for lunch and then I went to get some soft pretzels.
We started packing up about an hour before the final time as did others.
It was an interesting 5 hours even though it was so hot and sticky.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
My first tradeshow
My sister has a new and up and coming company, Keep You In Stitches and she goes to different tradeshows for contacts and new information. So when she received notification that Promotions East was holding their tradeshow on June 3-4th she decided to go, and take me with her. And my parents.
So off we went at 8am on Wednesday the 4th to Atlantic City where it was being held. We had booked a room at The Showboat hotel casino for the night so we could rest our weary bones.
It was huge! 800 vendors were there talking about their products and giving away free samples. I now have enough pens to last me a lifetime plus bags. It was interesting and very tiring.
Mom resting with her free hard hat.
Dad on his scooter.
Some photos of the stands and people.
Some goodies in one of the bags. My sister came out of the show with a small rolling suitcase that she brought with her and 4 large bags (free) full of free things.
So after we were finished, around 3:30, we went to the hotel, The Showboat
There we had something to eat and then I went to play the slots where the first time I was a winner! Yay me!! Not a big winner but I left with more money than I started with.
On Thursday it was decided that we wouldn't have breakfast at the hotel but that we would leave and have breakfast at Dennys so Dad could have his 'Grand Slam'. Well, so did I. I had grits for the first time in years. We also stopped at Wal*Mart. I had to laugh when I got to the clothing department because I forgot that it was George!! We have George in our 'Asda' stores which is Wal*Mart in England. I did find a nice pink top for the winter on sale and then when you use the money converter, it was practically given away.
So off we went at 8am on Wednesday the 4th to Atlantic City where it was being held. We had booked a room at The Showboat hotel casino for the night so we could rest our weary bones.
It was huge! 800 vendors were there talking about their products and giving away free samples. I now have enough pens to last me a lifetime plus bags. It was interesting and very tiring.
Mom resting with her free hard hat.
Dad on his scooter.
Some photos of the stands and people.
Some goodies in one of the bags. My sister came out of the show with a small rolling suitcase that she brought with her and 4 large bags (free) full of free things.
So after we were finished, around 3:30, we went to the hotel, The Showboat
There we had something to eat and then I went to play the slots where the first time I was a winner! Yay me!! Not a big winner but I left with more money than I started with.
On Thursday it was decided that we wouldn't have breakfast at the hotel but that we would leave and have breakfast at Dennys so Dad could have his 'Grand Slam'. Well, so did I. I had grits for the first time in years. We also stopped at Wal*Mart. I had to laugh when I got to the clothing department because I forgot that it was George!! We have George in our 'Asda' stores which is Wal*Mart in England. I did find a nice pink top for the winter on sale and then when you use the money converter, it was practically given away.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Leashes of Love
No, this isn't a post on S&M but of a wonderful idea, Pet Therapy.
Leashes of Love is a group of people who have trained or are in the process of training their dogs to be ready to go to meet people who will benefit with the interaction of a well behaved dog. These dogs go through evaluations, training so in the end they get their CGC Certifications and Therapy Dog Certifications.
Today, animals provide many positive human health benefits:
Companionship, a friend to care for and to keep one occupied, something alive and warm to touch, a focus of attention, a reason for exercise, and to provide protection. Therapy programs using animals have evolved worldwide in many forms and names. Usually these programs are directed toward people with health problems requiring rehabilitation, such as elderly, physically handicapped, deaf, blind, emotionally or physically ill, or persons in correctional institutions.
The group I met yesterday is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
I went with my sister and a friend of hers to Posh Pets, a dog grooming salon which has Leashes of Love based there. My sister is the owner of Keep You In Stitches and she was measuring dogs for their vests. She'll embroider the dogs' names on the vests so they can wear them when they are 'working'.
She was also selling tee shirts and jewelry that she makes. More about her company on a later post.
This is Zoe and she's a beautiful dog who is being trained.
Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Unconditional love comes in all sized packages.
And of course I have to include this handsome chap who just happens to be my furry neffy, Varg.
Varg is a Newfoundland dog who right now is still growing and weighs a mere 146 pounds. He is so beautiful and even tempered.
He is also he figurehead for my sister's company, Keep You In Stitches.
If you want more information on dog therapy you can visit:
http://www.poshpetsgrooming.com/therapydogs/
Or how about information about The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program?
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm
Started in 1989, the CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
Leashes of Love is a group of people who have trained or are in the process of training their dogs to be ready to go to meet people who will benefit with the interaction of a well behaved dog. These dogs go through evaluations, training so in the end they get their CGC Certifications and Therapy Dog Certifications.
Today, animals provide many positive human health benefits:
Companionship, a friend to care for and to keep one occupied, something alive and warm to touch, a focus of attention, a reason for exercise, and to provide protection. Therapy programs using animals have evolved worldwide in many forms and names. Usually these programs are directed toward people with health problems requiring rehabilitation, such as elderly, physically handicapped, deaf, blind, emotionally or physically ill, or persons in correctional institutions.
The group I met yesterday is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
I went with my sister and a friend of hers to Posh Pets, a dog grooming salon which has Leashes of Love based there. My sister is the owner of Keep You In Stitches and she was measuring dogs for their vests. She'll embroider the dogs' names on the vests so they can wear them when they are 'working'.
She was also selling tee shirts and jewelry that she makes. More about her company on a later post.
This is Zoe and she's a beautiful dog who is being trained.
Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Unconditional love comes in all sized packages.
And of course I have to include this handsome chap who just happens to be my furry neffy, Varg.
Varg is a Newfoundland dog who right now is still growing and weighs a mere 146 pounds. He is so beautiful and even tempered.
He is also he figurehead for my sister's company, Keep You In Stitches.
If you want more information on dog therapy you can visit:
http://www.poshpetsgrooming.com/therapydogs/
Or how about information about The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program?
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm
Started in 1989, the CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
