Oh, look. I forgot to post again. And then I'm doing my routine check up on jkrowling.com, and what do I find? Her door is open with a family tree. The full Weasley family tree, the one that was edited out of the epilogue!
OK, so the names of all of the Weasley grandchildren isn't really the most special thing in the world, but it definitely made me happy. And wow, I really do write a lot about Harry Potter on here. But hey, it makes me happy.
Aaargh. I am so not happy with this blog lately. This needs a lot of work.
What else happened this week? My first-ever train ride in Israel. It was cool. Plus I'm planning another one this coming week.
I'm tired. Maybe I'll go to sleep soon...
Have a good week!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Wow.
It's really really really late, and I need to go to bed. But I just needed to say hi to my blog, to say that my little brother Noam has successfully convinced me to turn 19 instead of remaining 18 for another year, which I really wanted to do because 19 is boring. I'm 19, people, and it's not so bad. I still want to go to Antarctica and really want to research it more, and right now I'm listening to what just may be the best PotterCast ever. Just maybe. I may want to mention that Jo is on this episode. Really. Imagine being teased by and sharing jokes with her. This is so, so cool.
I should really get to sleep.
BTW, This post is so short and random and late because I had to work yesterday, which means that my weekend is really really short. And I had a really fun family birthday party tonight, which was great. And I've used the word "really" way too many times in this post. Really.
I should really get to sleep.
BTW, This post is so short and random and late because I had to work yesterday, which means that my weekend is really really short. And I had a really fun family birthday party tonight, which was great. And I've used the word "really" way too many times in this post. Really.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Weekly-ish update, and Antarctica.
I'll make this quick because I need to leave in about half an hour for Ariel. I'll be there for Shabbat...
There's not really much news to report, unless you count my brand new fixation with Antarctica. I really, really, really want to go there! I think it's mainly because nobody ever goes there. I thought about it, and I realized that it's the only continent where I don't even know anyone who's been there. That's a lot of the appeal. And the fact that it's so far from everything, and it's all white, and the wildlife is amazing. Seriously, I think I'd say that, since the only way to get there is on a cruise, it's probably the coolest place you can cruise to. Wouldn't you think so?
Realistically, I'll probably never get there. I don't know when I'd go, and it will probably cost me something like $5000 at least. But I can dream, right? And maybe someday I'll have enough money...
There's not really much news to report, unless you count my brand new fixation with Antarctica. I really, really, really want to go there! I think it's mainly because nobody ever goes there. I thought about it, and I realized that it's the only continent where I don't even know anyone who's been there. That's a lot of the appeal. And the fact that it's so far from everything, and it's all white, and the wildlife is amazing. Seriously, I think I'd say that, since the only way to get there is on a cruise, it's probably the coolest place you can cruise to. Wouldn't you think so?
Realistically, I'll probably never get there. I don't know when I'd go, and it will probably cost me something like $5000 at least. But I can dream, right? And maybe someday I'll have enough money...
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Soooo.
Chanukah's almost over! There's not much to report. I was in Ariel last night for some kind of Chanukah party/performance, which was OK. Today we went to an underground bullet factory and a science museum in Rechovot with the cousins. That was pretty cool. Tomorrow is the big shopping day, I don't know exactly where (but I trust those who do) and then on Thursday it's back to work. :-)
Now for a story, because I have nothing else to say:
So this bullet factory was illegal, because it was built at the time when the British ruled here, and they didn't want anyone to manufacture ammunition because they wanted to feel like they were in charge. So the smart Jews went and built a factory under a Kibbutz. One day, the Brits came to the Kibbutz on a surprise inspection visit. The Kibbutzniks needed time to cover everything up and to hide all traces of the factory, so they invited the Brits into their dining room for food and beer as a way of stalling. The Brits complained, however, that the beer wasn't cold. So the (again, smart) Jews said, "Well, if you wanted your beer to be cold, you should have told us you were coming." And so it was from that day on. The Brits got their cold beer, the Jews got the advance warning about their inspections, and everyone was happy. And the factory survived 3 years (I think) until our State was founded without ever being discovered by the British.
Now for a story, because I have nothing else to say:
So this bullet factory was illegal, because it was built at the time when the British ruled here, and they didn't want anyone to manufacture ammunition because they wanted to feel like they were in charge. So the smart Jews went and built a factory under a Kibbutz. One day, the Brits came to the Kibbutz on a surprise inspection visit. The Kibbutzniks needed time to cover everything up and to hide all traces of the factory, so they invited the Brits into their dining room for food and beer as a way of stalling. The Brits complained, however, that the beer wasn't cold. So the (again, smart) Jews said, "Well, if you wanted your beer to be cold, you should have told us you were coming." And so it was from that day on. The Brits got their cold beer, the Jews got the advance warning about their inspections, and everyone was happy. And the factory survived 3 years (I think) until our State was founded without ever being discovered by the British.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Wow, I'm late.
So, I was behind on a post from last week. That comes out to something like 10 days ago. I don't think anything of note really happened that week, except for Shabbat at Savta's which was a lot of fun. It was basically us 6 girls in her apartment all Shabbat, except for when we went to shul. Just hanging out, and talking. Meanwhile, my parents were alone with my little brothers, who, as it turned out, are quite capable of doing things like clearing the table and drying dishes. Who knew? And as soon as we got home after Shabbat, Natani said: "You three are never going away for Shabbat together again!" And lo and behold, they didn't do any work this week. Wow.
So. Chanukah. I'm one of the lucky ones who has off the whole week (except Wednesday) because I work in a school which is closed. We had a bit of a scare on Wednesday where it looked like the principal was going to make us work, but it got worked out and all I lost out of it was missing candle lighting with my family (on the 2nd night, because on the 1st night I lit in my apartment) and I had to light later. Oh well.
Oh, wait. There was one thing last week. I went to a Hafgana against the splitting of Yerushalayim. It was quite awhile ago, so there's not much I can think of to report on it. Oh well.
I saw a movie last night. Anyone who knows what it's about and knows me should know that this is just basically my movie. Enchanted is about this fairy tale princess, who is banished by her prince's evil stepmother (who doesn't want them to get married so that the prince won't take the crown away from her) to modern-day New York. So it starts out animated like any Disney movie, with Giselle falling out of a tree (long story) and into the arms of her "true love", Prince Edward. And then, just as they're about to get married (the next day, of course) she gets pushed down a well and emerges under a pothole in Times Square, no longer animated. Basically, the rest of the story is her trying to get back to Edward, (who comes to New York to find her, along with his stepmother, her servant, and a little chipmunk friend of Giselle's, who finds himself unable to speak in New York) along the way falling in love with a New York lawyer, Robert. What's really cool about this movie is that it basically proves that there is no such thing as true love (but not in a bad way, because this is still Disney) and references all of the Disney movies. I'm not going to say too much on that, if you want to know more, go see the movie. Everyone will like it, I guarantee!
The other two important things that happened last night were my discovery that my Sherut Leumi card gets me the soldier's discount at the movies, and my first ever purchase from Michal Negrin...
And that's about it. Have a good week!
So. Chanukah. I'm one of the lucky ones who has off the whole week (except Wednesday) because I work in a school which is closed. We had a bit of a scare on Wednesday where it looked like the principal was going to make us work, but it got worked out and all I lost out of it was missing candle lighting with my family (on the 2nd night, because on the 1st night I lit in my apartment) and I had to light later. Oh well.
Oh, wait. There was one thing last week. I went to a Hafgana against the splitting of Yerushalayim. It was quite awhile ago, so there's not much I can think of to report on it. Oh well.
I saw a movie last night. Anyone who knows what it's about and knows me should know that this is just basically my movie. Enchanted is about this fairy tale princess, who is banished by her prince's evil stepmother (who doesn't want them to get married so that the prince won't take the crown away from her) to modern-day New York. So it starts out animated like any Disney movie, with Giselle falling out of a tree (long story) and into the arms of her "true love", Prince Edward. And then, just as they're about to get married (the next day, of course) she gets pushed down a well and emerges under a pothole in Times Square, no longer animated. Basically, the rest of the story is her trying to get back to Edward, (who comes to New York to find her, along with his stepmother, her servant, and a little chipmunk friend of Giselle's, who finds himself unable to speak in New York) along the way falling in love with a New York lawyer, Robert. What's really cool about this movie is that it basically proves that there is no such thing as true love (but not in a bad way, because this is still Disney) and references all of the Disney movies. I'm not going to say too much on that, if you want to know more, go see the movie. Everyone will like it, I guarantee!
The other two important things that happened last night were my discovery that my Sherut Leumi card gets me the soldier's discount at the movies, and my first ever purchase from Michal Negrin...
And that's about it. Have a good week!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
No weekly update this week...
...because I had kind of a crazy week. I was at Savta's with my sisters and cousins, and I'm not packed yet to go back to Ariel because I wasn't home as much as I usually am... but it's all OK, because CHANUKAH is this week, I'll be home on Wednesday (and basically home the whole chag!!!) so I'll make a post then, about last week and this week and Shabbat!
Have a good week!
Have a good week!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sorry, too late.
So I've finally decided to re-watch Gilmore Girls from the beginning. I always watch something when I'm cleaning my room, because it's boring. So apparently the GG pilot is just... wow. So incredibly different from the rest of the series, it's scary. All of the characters have changed so much, and it was a bit weird. There are a lot of character traits that have been written out of the show... And it was only the pilot so the set was completely different. But I can say that Alexis Bledel was really gorgeous 7 years ago...
Oh, and I'm home because I missed the bus to Ariel yesterday. I can't pretend I'm bummed about that. Apparently Hashem thought I'd be better off at home, so he had me look at the wrong schedule. Anyway, I was happy to be here, and now I'm leaving with an awesome recipe for an easy and great minestrone soup I can make in my apartment...
Why am I blogging at 12:26 AM on a school night? I'm not tired. I hate when that happens. Maybe even decaf isn't the best thing at 11:30 PM.
Luke: Rory, put down that coffee. You do not want to grow up to be like your mom.
Rory: Sorry, too late.
Ack. I really do love that show...
Oh, and I'm home because I missed the bus to Ariel yesterday. I can't pretend I'm bummed about that. Apparently Hashem thought I'd be better off at home, so he had me look at the wrong schedule. Anyway, I was happy to be here, and now I'm leaving with an awesome recipe for an easy and great minestrone soup I can make in my apartment...
Why am I blogging at 12:26 AM on a school night? I'm not tired. I hate when that happens. Maybe even decaf isn't the best thing at 11:30 PM.
Luke: Rory, put down that coffee. You do not want to grow up to be like your mom.
Rory: Sorry, too late.
Ack. I really do love that show...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Heyyy!
So what happened in my life this week? Actually, it doesn't feel like I have a lot of news, but this week has been really tiring, not to mention kinda emotionally draining. Because I'm at the point in the year when I'm just sick of everything. Not to mention I failed a driving test this week and I'm going to be in Ariel for Shabbat.
But it'll all be OK. My parents and Noam came to visit me today and take me home. That was fun. That's about it. Now I'm going to read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with Natani.
But it'll all be OK. My parents and Noam came to visit me today and take me home. That was fun. That's about it. Now I'm going to read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with Natani.
Friday, November 16, 2007
It's late, and I'm blogging.
When's the last time I made two posts in one day? Probably sometime around July 21st, I'd guess.
Just three more tiny things...
Just three more tiny things...
- Mira was just in my room, talking about random things like we tend to do too late at night. I played the "la la la" background music from Gilmore Girls (which anyone familiar with GG should recognize) and she got all "I hate you!" because she's already done with the show. I haven't seen the last season yet, because we don't have the DVD yet, but I know how she feels. I miss Friends.
- Where's Waldo? is such a stupid book. I really have to say that, because I came home to find it at my house, from the library. Even though there is so much more to search for than I thought, and even though I've found the guy on every page I've opened it up to (which I've never been able to do before), seriously, it's pathetic.
- The Cars soundtrack is making me want to do a big US road trip again. I really want to do that. Somehow, the middle of nowhere, America speaks to me more than Europe. Go figure. This is why I love Cars.
That's all. Good night!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Weekly Update, a.k.a. I really really love music!
- Chanukah is coming! Well, it's Kislev anyway. In my family we have a tradition that as soon as Kislev starts, we play this CD. Like all the time. It's the Miami Boys Choir Chanukah CD, and it is guaranteed to make you smile and think to yourself, "Chanukah is coming! Yay!!!!" Or at least that's what it does for me. Of course now, since I don't live at home, I have the songs on my iPod, and I was just sitting on the bus on my way home today and suddenly Maoz Tzur made me realize that I would actually be singing that soon! So now we're all happy.
- Speaking of music, the other reason I'm in a good mood is because I just got 3 CD's I ordered online. Each one of them is an awesome CD for a different reason, and seeing the 3 of them together automatically put me in a good mood. So... the first one is the Cars soundtrack. I love that movie to pieces, and the songs on it are just really good. And fun.
- The next is a Gilmore Girls soundtrack. I bought it for 3 reasons: 1. It has the version of "Where You Lead" that Carole King did especially for the show, which I personally like a lot better than her original one. 2. I love the background music on that show, and it's all on the soundtrack. 3. There's a song called "My Little Corner of the World" which is played during one of my very favorite scenes ever on Gilmore Girls, the last scene of the first season, and is a really adorable song, not to mention is very big on the "Stars Hollow vibe". I love Stars Hollow with all of my heart and soul. And when you open the CD, just on the liner, the Stars Hollow vibe is there, just screaming out at you. The pictures are little details of Stars-Hollowness, and there are two essays from the wonderful creators of GG, Amy and Dan Palladino, about music. As if we didn't know they could write.
- The other CD I bought is Renee Olstead's self-titled CD. I heard of her only because she has a song on the Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack, but she's actually really good. Most of her music is her twist on classics, but what's cool about her is that this CD- her first- was released when she was fifteen. The other thing I liked was that at the end of the acknowlegements on the CD she wrote "BTW: Thnx for being one of the few people who reads liner notes." I thought that was cute, but I really had no idea nobody does that... I always do.
Everything else I wanted to blog about seems way too mundane after this long music talk. But wow, that was fun. I haven't blogged like this in awhile. Blogging about randomness is the best way to blog, I must say.
So the other things were: Hopefully my ingrown toenail has been fixed for real, and I'm so happy I'm out of the school system before all these problems. My sisters are barely ever in school, a lot of the kids are worried about there Bagruyot, and now all the education positions in Sherut Leumi are frozen as well. One of the girls with me in Ariel left a couple of weeks ago, and now she's stuck and can't get a job in education. The position she left open can't be filled either. Wow. We need a new education minister.
Anyway, I'm home on Shabbat, and we have a lot of people- my cousins, my grandmother, and my friend. That's about it...
Shabbat Shalom! Have a good week!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Guess what?
I'm officially reinstating my weekly updates. 1, because I can't blog from Ariel, and 2, because maybe it'll make me blog more. That would be nice...
- So I was home for this Shabbat after 3 Shabbatot I wasn't home. Two weeks ago I was in Ariel, and the other two weeks I was with my cousins in Neve Daniel. I was going to be in Ariel this week, because it was Shabbat Irgun in Bnei Akiva and I figured I should be there to help out, but I absolutely couldn't be away for another Shabbat. And it was so great to be home...
- Have I mentioned I'm now taking driving lessons in Ariel? After being a "Lamed"- a driving student- in Yerushalayim, Ariel is so much fun. It's so easy, and everything is so close to everything else! I'm not sick of it yet (wow.) so I'm having a great time!
- I'm afraid of chicks. I'm not joking. I went with my little first graders to this place in Kfar Saba that teaches about various kinds of birds and various aspects of their lives, and at the end the adults were asked to give each kid a chick to pet. I tried to pick one up, and I couldn't. It totally grossed me out. Chicks are not fun to hold. And then our school caretaker who came with us picked up on that, and put a little chick on my lap. Twice. I absolutely couldn't deal, so I shrieked until he took it off. I'm sure it was very funny. I'm scarred.
So, that's about it, I think. I'm really loving school, but I'm so tired! Back to school tomorrow...
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Look what happens when I try to be a good blogger...
For the first time in a long time, I really wanted to blog one day this week. I went online in the teacher's room in the school where I work (BTW, it's going great B"H.) and it just wouldn't let me get to blogger.com. Apparently they have some kind of filtering system, but it lets in most stuff. Gmail, Facebook, MuggleNet all worked, but I couldn't blog. So any hopes of blogging during the week as a way of getting back into blogging basically went down the drain. I'll need to save whatever I have to say for the weekends.
So why did I need to blog so badly? Because there was this little thing that my friend Jo Rowling said at a big event in New York last week. Albus Dumbledore is gay, and not just gay, but in love (what does in love mean, anyway?) with Gellert Grindelwald, who was his BFF-turned-enemy. So here's the thing. My religion prohibits homosexuality, which basically means I'm opposed to it. But I've never had anything against gay fictional characters. Until now. Maybe it's because this relationship was already a central part of the last book, and now it just looks totally different. Maybe it's because Jo didn't tell us until after the book was out. Which makes sense, because Harry never knew. But it's just so confusing. Towards the beginning of the week I was just mad. Then I was in denial, waiting for Jo to say she was just joking. I do find it a bit ridiculous, to be honest. Grindelwald?!
So Sherut is going well, but I'm really really in need of more time at home. I'm home now but going back to Ariel for Shabbat, and I just have no time. Going a bit crazy... Shabbat Shalom!
So why did I need to blog so badly? Because there was this little thing that my friend Jo Rowling said at a big event in New York last week. Albus Dumbledore is gay, and not just gay, but in love (what does in love mean, anyway?) with Gellert Grindelwald, who was his BFF-turned-enemy. So here's the thing. My religion prohibits homosexuality, which basically means I'm opposed to it. But I've never had anything against gay fictional characters. Until now. Maybe it's because this relationship was already a central part of the last book, and now it just looks totally different. Maybe it's because Jo didn't tell us until after the book was out. Which makes sense, because Harry never knew. But it's just so confusing. Towards the beginning of the week I was just mad. Then I was in denial, waiting for Jo to say she was just joking. I do find it a bit ridiculous, to be honest. Grindelwald?!
So Sherut is going well, but I'm really really in need of more time at home. I'm home now but going back to Ariel for Shabbat, and I just have no time. Going a bit crazy... Shabbat Shalom!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
That was fun...
We just had the usual horde of cousins here for Succot, and it was so much fun. Between hanging out with my new Israeli little cousins, bonding with my older cousins, serious girl talk with my cousin's Kallah and a visit from a very old friend. All together, very cool.
Anyway, my poor neglected blog deserves a happy birthday! It should be two years sometime around yesterday or so. I'm now working on redoing it, and hopefully that should inspire me to blog more. It's not like my life is so boring right now...
Anyway, my poor neglected blog deserves a happy birthday! It should be two years sometime around yesterday or so. I'm now working on redoing it, and hopefully that should inspire me to blog more. It's not like my life is so boring right now...
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I'm (still) so tired...
So basically, Yom Kippur in Ariel was really beautiful, with something between 300-500 people from the general public at Ne'ila. Right now, I'm really looking forward to being home for a week. And still wondering when I'm going to make a blog post worth reading.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
I'm tired.
Which is probably why my blog posts keep looking like this. Maybe one of these days I'll get into the habit of posting every time I'm home. I had a freaky deja vu today where I walked into a building identical to part of my school, and I realized how much I miss school. Tomorrow morning I go back to Ariel for Yom Kippur, where I'll be davening with a Minyan for the general public. It should be beautiful. More on that later. Maybe on Chol Hamoed I'll really work on here. After that- no vacation till Purim!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Wow...
I've been a very bad blogger. I keep either not having internet access or not being in a bloggery mood. I'm not in a bloggery mood right now, so this is my post: Sherut has been pretty good, with a lot of hard work and a lot of not being home. And I feel the need to mention that I just got Crocs and became an instant fan. That's about it. Shana Tova!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I'm leaving...
It's almost 2 AM, and I'm just finished packing for my Sherut. I leave early tomorrow morning- I have to be in Ariel by 10. Wow. I'm way too tired to be writing anything particularly interesting. I've been really neglecting my blog lately, and all I can say is I hope that being away from home during the week, likely without access to the internet, won't keep me from blogging as much as I can this year.
That's all I can write at this hour. I'm off to serve my country...
That's all I can write at this hour. I'm off to serve my country...
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Wow, I haven't blogged in years...
A couple of days ago, we got back from a trip up north (we=my family). For the first half of it, we stayed in this little house in a Moshav called Ramot in the Golan. It's absolutely beautiful there. You can see the Kinneret from the Moshav, and it's so quiet and quaint and so much fun to be in. We actually took it easy most of the time, but we did a bunch of Tiyulim and other stuff. Then, on Thursday, my grandmother and cousins came up and we stayed in the hotel in Nir Etzion till Sunday. We had a really nice Shabbat and a lot of fun.
On the downside, at some point during our trip, I developed an infection because of an ingrown toenail. It's quite gross, it hurts a ton every time it gets banged, I have to soak it three times a day, and I have to wear socks because I need to keep it covered. (I also have to wear sandals, because closed shoes hurt. So I look like a good little Chorev girl...) Hopefully it should be better soon, and if not, there's always surgery... and it's not like I can't move around.
What else is new? I saw the cutest movie last night, The Holiday. Honestly, I fell in love with it as soon as I heard about it, but I didn't get a chance to see it in the theater. It's basically just another romantic comedy, but the fact is that I love romantic comedies. The story is this: Two women with messed up love lives, Iris in the middle of nowhere, England, and Amanda in LA, trade homes for the holiday season and find much more than they could have hoped for... I was in something of a bad mood last night because of this stupid toe and I said, "Hey, why not rent that movie I really wanted to see?" So I did, and it worked.
So I'm going to Ariel next Thursday, and with that I enter the real world. The following Sunday, I start work in the school. I'll be a staff member, not to mention a role model. On the plus side, there's no homework.
I need to comment on this horrible thing I read today. This guy has had 15 wives, but he keeps divorcing them because Islam doesn't permit more than 4 at a time, and altogether he has 78 kids. He's 60, his oldest kid is 30 and his youngest is 20 days. Right now, he's married to three women, and two of them are pregnant. And now he's aiming for 100 kids by 2015, so he's looking for three new wives. Oh, and he has one leg. Just because.
I guess that's about it... Smile!
On the downside, at some point during our trip, I developed an infection because of an ingrown toenail. It's quite gross, it hurts a ton every time it gets banged, I have to soak it three times a day, and I have to wear socks because I need to keep it covered. (I also have to wear sandals, because closed shoes hurt. So I look like a good little Chorev girl...) Hopefully it should be better soon, and if not, there's always surgery... and it's not like I can't move around.
What else is new? I saw the cutest movie last night, The Holiday. Honestly, I fell in love with it as soon as I heard about it, but I didn't get a chance to see it in the theater. It's basically just another romantic comedy, but the fact is that I love romantic comedies. The story is this: Two women with messed up love lives, Iris in the middle of nowhere, England, and Amanda in LA, trade homes for the holiday season and find much more than they could have hoped for... I was in something of a bad mood last night because of this stupid toe and I said, "Hey, why not rent that movie I really wanted to see?" So I did, and it worked.
So I'm going to Ariel next Thursday, and with that I enter the real world. The following Sunday, I start work in the school. I'll be a staff member, not to mention a role model. On the plus side, there's no homework.
I need to comment on this horrible thing I read today. This guy has had 15 wives, but he keeps divorcing them because Islam doesn't permit more than 4 at a time, and altogether he has 78 kids. He's 60, his oldest kid is 30 and his youngest is 20 days. Right now, he's married to three women, and two of them are pregnant. And now he's aiming for 100 kids by 2015, so he's looking for three new wives. Oh, and he has one leg. Just because.
I guess that's about it... Smile!
Monday, August 06, 2007
I haven't been home in 9 days...
I was at my preparatory seminar for Sherut Leumi, and I have to admit it was pretty good. I had no desire to be stuck there for over a week, and the week went really slowly and took forever to get through. But I did learn a lot of useful (and useless...) stuff about working in a school. And the bottom line is, it was a lot of fun. I already knew most of the girls I'll be living with, because we were in Ariel for a Shabbat a few weeks ago, but it was nice to get to know them better. So we were in this high school for a week, with 500 soon to be Sherut Leumi girls. The quality of the seminar was quite nice, and they did a lot of awesome stuff outside of the classes. It was pretty cool, actually.
Today, after the seminar was over, I didn't go home but went to the movies with my family. We saw Hairspray, which is based on the Broadway musical. I had no desire to see it on Broadway, but now I really want to. It was a pretty cool musical, set in the 50's, about promoting equality (and too much hairspray) and it reminded me a lot of High School Musical, though I'm convinced that this has nothing to do with the fact that Zac Efron starred as "the cute guy". Oh, and he actually has a really good voice! (He didn't sing most of the music in HSM because his voice wasn't right for it, which is something that bothers me a lot because Andrew Seeley, who sang most of Zac's parts, wasn't credited at all.) The music is a lot of fun and the dancing is awesome. Basically, this is great movie, go watch it!
So I have this tendency of posting links on here when I see a good video online, and I just have to plug this one because it's so nice. It talks about the workaholism in the world today and how it can drive us crazy and we should take a break and enjoy this beautiful world...
The other thing about being away for a week is that I had so little spare time. I kept forgetting to call home because the schedule was so packed, but what I found even more surprising was that I finally got over Harry Potter. Although I did have a long talk about it on Shabbat afternoon. Anyway, it's not like I'm completely back to being absorbed in it now that I'm home, but while I was away there was a live webchat with Jo posted online where she answered a lot of stuff about the books. A lot of it I thought was cool, except for the identity of the killer of one of the victims of Deathly Hallows which I thought was quite disturbing. But anyway...
Today, after the seminar was over, I didn't go home but went to the movies with my family. We saw Hairspray, which is based on the Broadway musical. I had no desire to see it on Broadway, but now I really want to. It was a pretty cool musical, set in the 50's, about promoting equality (and too much hairspray) and it reminded me a lot of High School Musical, though I'm convinced that this has nothing to do with the fact that Zac Efron starred as "the cute guy". Oh, and he actually has a really good voice! (He didn't sing most of the music in HSM because his voice wasn't right for it, which is something that bothers me a lot because Andrew Seeley, who sang most of Zac's parts, wasn't credited at all.) The music is a lot of fun and the dancing is awesome. Basically, this is great movie, go watch it!
So I have this tendency of posting links on here when I see a good video online, and I just have to plug this one because it's so nice. It talks about the workaholism in the world today and how it can drive us crazy and we should take a break and enjoy this beautiful world...
The other thing about being away for a week is that I had so little spare time. I kept forgetting to call home because the schedule was so packed, but what I found even more surprising was that I finally got over Harry Potter. Although I did have a long talk about it on Shabbat afternoon. Anyway, it's not like I'm completely back to being absorbed in it now that I'm home, but while I was away there was a live webchat with Jo posted online where she answered a lot of stuff about the books. A lot of it I thought was cool, except for the identity of the killer of one of the victims of Deathly Hallows which I thought was quite disturbing. But anyway...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I just watched the latest installment in the Harry Potter film series, and it was kinda good. The movie came out before Deathly Hallows, the final book, but I think it enhanced my movie experience having read the book before. Just a few things that made me smile, or things that looked vaguely like foreshadowing, or the one time where I'm listening to a certain character talk, and suddenly I say to myself, "Oh, I forgot. He died." And that wasn't a minor character either.
I just have to say, Evanna Lynch, who joined the cast for this movie as Luna Lovegood (who I really love!) was awesome. I've thought Evanna was really cool for months, because she's been a huge HP fan for years. She's actually written to Jo and recieved a reply, and Jo had expressed an opinion that she just is Luna. Luna is basically really weird, totally blunt, (in an endearing sort of way) and believes in everything she hears. Evanna has said in an interview that as long as there's no proof that something doesn't exist, it can exist. Anyway, Evanna was just the perfect Luna.
Right now I'm listening to the first post-DH episode of PotterCast, and the intro was done by Rupert Grint, who plays Ron. And then I realized that he actually did a great job in this movie. The fact is, most of the cast did, beacuse my complaints with the movie were content-related. But for the first four movies, Ron was this little wimp who always looked like he was going to throw up. Now, he just kind of felt stronger. It was pretty cool.
Speaking of that episode of PotterCast, they're really confusing me. I'm thinking of the movie, but they're talking about the book...
In other HP news, Jo just keeps talking, and now she gave some new info on the futures of some of the survivors of DH. I'm really waiting for that encyclopedia now. :-)
I just have to say, Evanna Lynch, who joined the cast for this movie as Luna Lovegood (who I really love!) was awesome. I've thought Evanna was really cool for months, because she's been a huge HP fan for years. She's actually written to Jo and recieved a reply, and Jo had expressed an opinion that she just is Luna. Luna is basically really weird, totally blunt, (in an endearing sort of way) and believes in everything she hears. Evanna has said in an interview that as long as there's no proof that something doesn't exist, it can exist. Anyway, Evanna was just the perfect Luna.
Right now I'm listening to the first post-DH episode of PotterCast, and the intro was done by Rupert Grint, who plays Ron. And then I realized that he actually did a great job in this movie. The fact is, most of the cast did, beacuse my complaints with the movie were content-related. But for the first four movies, Ron was this little wimp who always looked like he was going to throw up. Now, he just kind of felt stronger. It was pretty cool.
Speaking of that episode of PotterCast, they're really confusing me. I'm thinking of the movie, but they're talking about the book...
In other HP news, Jo just keeps talking, and now she gave some new info on the futures of some of the survivors of DH. I'm really waiting for that encyclopedia now. :-)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Deathly Hallows epilogue
I am by no means done venting about the book, some of that venting may show up on here at some point, but right now I need to share a beautiful blog post I just read. I saw the link to this post on PotterCast.com, and the blogger in question is (Hotttttt) Cheryl Klein, who works for Arthur Levine, Jo Rowling's editor at Scholastic. Cheryl is a huge HP fan herself, and she's read the book something like six months ago. Now she's posted her opinion on it, and the best part is it explained the beauty of the epilogue that I hadn't seen. I'd just been thinking the epilogue was way to cheesy for my liking, even though it was the end of Potter and all. Now I realize why she did it, and I love Cheryl for clarifying that to me. It even made me teary... The link to the post is here, but I have to say that if you haven't read the book and have any remote desire to do so, don't read Cheryl's post! Seriously, DON'T! SPOILER WARNING!
On a similiar subject, Jo has announced that she's going to write that encyclopedia we've been speculating about. She's been writing notes about her characters, that didn't make it into the books, for as long as she's been writing HP. So we're going to be getting 17 years worth of backstory, random details, and, most importantly, info on the futures of more of the characters who survived DH!
On a similiar subject, Jo has announced that she's going to write that encyclopedia we've been speculating about. She's been writing notes about her characters, that didn't make it into the books, for as long as she's been writing HP. So we're going to be getting 17 years worth of backstory, random details, and, most importantly, info on the futures of more of the characters who survived DH!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
There will be no more Harry Potter books.
I'm not interested in spoiling anything, but I LOVE JO ROWLING. Least of all because it was dedicated to me, among millions of others. (I knew she would do that.)
Also because this story was just told so so so well. I'm already starting to realize that there are a lot of questions that are still open, but everything that's important was closed. A lot of people died, some good and some who really had it coming to them.
I was thinking, the beauty of Harry Potter is that you can be so wrong in speculating about certain things, but still love it so much. Every serious Potter fan has theories, and I had my own, and some of them were very wrong. (Some weren't. But never mind...) I love the dawning revelation, when I find out that a theory I had been arguing against for 2 years is true. And on the other hand, I love Harry realizing something we fans realized years ago.
I just have to say, there are a lot of characters in the HP books. But never has a book changed my opinion about so many people. I can't count how many times I fell in love with various characters in this book. And that epilogue! Just the word "Epilogue" in the contents creeped me out. It could have been a bit longer, to find out about more people, but we got what we needed.
The book was really scary, I have to say. I caught quite a few references to the Holocaust and Nazism, which I guess made me identify with the book that much more. Kinda like the end of the Shadow Children series (not to compare them to HP) where each one gets darker and scarier and you feel like the whole thing is controlled by Nazis.
And now, it's all over. Kids like my brother Natani are the first in a generation who will never have to wait for a HP book. Wow.
Right now, I'm listening to MuggleCast's post-release episode and I'm already realizing how much we just found out in this book. All those things Jo has said in interviews and the previous books are starting to come together, and it's just so cool...
There are probably more things I wanted to say but I forgot... so I may be back later.
Oh! I remembered something. Something really important:
Thank you, Jo! For everything. For all the books, and the extra info, and for the fandom, and for opening up to us fans. I'm probably still not done, but I just had to say that.
Also because this story was just told so so so well. I'm already starting to realize that there are a lot of questions that are still open, but everything that's important was closed. A lot of people died, some good and some who really had it coming to them.
I was thinking, the beauty of Harry Potter is that you can be so wrong in speculating about certain things, but still love it so much. Every serious Potter fan has theories, and I had my own, and some of them were very wrong. (Some weren't. But never mind...) I love the dawning revelation, when I find out that a theory I had been arguing against for 2 years is true. And on the other hand, I love Harry realizing something we fans realized years ago.
I just have to say, there are a lot of characters in the HP books. But never has a book changed my opinion about so many people. I can't count how many times I fell in love with various characters in this book. And that epilogue! Just the word "Epilogue" in the contents creeped me out. It could have been a bit longer, to find out about more people, but we got what we needed.
The book was really scary, I have to say. I caught quite a few references to the Holocaust and Nazism, which I guess made me identify with the book that much more. Kinda like the end of the Shadow Children series (not to compare them to HP) where each one gets darker and scarier and you feel like the whole thing is controlled by Nazis.
And now, it's all over. Kids like my brother Natani are the first in a generation who will never have to wait for a HP book. Wow.
Right now, I'm listening to MuggleCast's post-release episode and I'm already realizing how much we just found out in this book. All those things Jo has said in interviews and the previous books are starting to come together, and it's just so cool...
There are probably more things I wanted to say but I forgot... so I may be back later.
Oh! I remembered something. Something really important:
Thank you, Jo! For everything. For all the books, and the extra info, and for the fandom, and for opening up to us fans. I'm probably still not done, but I just had to say that.
Friday, July 20, 2007
The world is coming to an end tomorrow. (Almost.)
Seriously, Jo Rowling opened the door on her website for what is probably the last time ever, and instead of some kind of challenging way to navigate it, all there was was a letter of acknowlegements. It wasn't anything particularly special, but it made me cry. In all of my years of being an avid Harry Potter fan, nothing written by Jo Rowling has ever made me cry. Until today. I wonder what I'll be like tomorrow...
Thursday, July 19, 2007
This is the part where I freak out...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is coming out in 2 days.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Two little things...
First, here's a public service announcement from PotterCast courtesy of Harry and the Potters:
Second, today was really my last Bagrut!!! For ever and ever and ever, I don't need to take another Bagrut! :-)
Second, today was really my last Bagrut!!! For ever and ever and ever, I don't need to take another Bagrut! :-)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I don't want to start another post with "Hey, how's it going?"
... So I won't.
That said, I had a great time on Shabbat yesterday. I was in Ariel, with the girls I'll be working with next year and the girls who were there this past year. It looks like a nice group, even though I don't know which ones of them I'll be living with. Basically, the way it works is that the 14 Bnot Sherut in Ariel form something called a "gar'in" which works with the small group of religious families in Ariel to spread religion and just generally improve the situation in the city. There's a lot to do, so I'm hoping for a great year. The families who live there are all really nice, and the city is so small and cute. I liked it. :-)
I'm taking my really last Bagrut tomorrow. It's not overly important at this point, because it's only to improve a grade that can't get me more than 5 points, and as it is I haven't studied much, but I'm taking it anyway beacuse I can't lose anything over it.
My new Israeli cousins aren't living with us anymore, even though my new Israeli Savta still is. We're still seeing them a lot, and they'll be here this Shabbat.
Speaking of this Shabbat, it's July 21st. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! 'Nuff said.
(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is coming out on July 21st. Just in case you didn't know.)
Speaking of Harry Potter, the fans are getting together and trying to stop the Genocide in Sudan. PotterCast just released a special episode to raise awareness, and to connect the messages in HP to the situation in Darfur. There is an organization called the Harry Potter Alliance, whose purpose has always been to use the messages in HP to promote different causes in our world, and now they've teamed up with the Wizard Rockers and HP fansites such as The Leaky Cauldron to stop the violence in Darfur. Personally, I hadn't really thought much about this issue until now. But this is real genocide, the same thing that happened to my own people 60 years ago. Nobody did anything about it then, and we lost 6 million people. In Sudan, 2 million people are at risk, and now is the time to act. So let's all check out these links, and do what we can.
PotterCast's Darfur page: http://pottercast.the-leaky-cauldron.org/page/darfur (There are a lot of links on this page to various things we can do.)
Wizards and Muggles Rock For Social Justice! CD in support of the HP Alliance can be bought here: http://www.myspace.com/cheaprent
See what the situation in Darfur looks like here: http://www.eyesondarfur.org/
That said, I had a great time on Shabbat yesterday. I was in Ariel, with the girls I'll be working with next year and the girls who were there this past year. It looks like a nice group, even though I don't know which ones of them I'll be living with. Basically, the way it works is that the 14 Bnot Sherut in Ariel form something called a "gar'in" which works with the small group of religious families in Ariel to spread religion and just generally improve the situation in the city. There's a lot to do, so I'm hoping for a great year. The families who live there are all really nice, and the city is so small and cute. I liked it. :-)
I'm taking my really last Bagrut tomorrow. It's not overly important at this point, because it's only to improve a grade that can't get me more than 5 points, and as it is I haven't studied much, but I'm taking it anyway beacuse I can't lose anything over it.
My new Israeli cousins aren't living with us anymore, even though my new Israeli Savta still is. We're still seeing them a lot, and they'll be here this Shabbat.
Speaking of this Shabbat, it's July 21st. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! 'Nuff said.
(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is coming out on July 21st. Just in case you didn't know.)
Speaking of Harry Potter, the fans are getting together and trying to stop the Genocide in Sudan. PotterCast just released a special episode to raise awareness, and to connect the messages in HP to the situation in Darfur. There is an organization called the Harry Potter Alliance, whose purpose has always been to use the messages in HP to promote different causes in our world, and now they've teamed up with the Wizard Rockers and HP fansites such as The Leaky Cauldron to stop the violence in Darfur. Personally, I hadn't really thought much about this issue until now. But this is real genocide, the same thing that happened to my own people 60 years ago. Nobody did anything about it then, and we lost 6 million people. In Sudan, 2 million people are at risk, and now is the time to act. So let's all check out these links, and do what we can.
PotterCast's Darfur page: http://pottercast.the-leaky-cauldron.org/page/darfur (There are a lot of links on this page to various things we can do.)
Wizards and Muggles Rock For Social Justice! CD in support of the HP Alliance can be bought here: http://www.myspace.com/cheaprent
See what the situation in Darfur looks like here: http://www.eyesondarfur.org/
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Woohoo!
Today was the day where my life changed forever. In that I now have all of my immediate relatives on my mother's side living within 45 minutes (worst case scenario) of my house. Actually, at the moment, they're all living in my house, but never mind that.
So yeah. Today, the first Nefesh B'Nefesh flight of the summer landed in Tel Aviv, and my grandmother, my uncle and his family were on it. Now they're all Israeli!
So I got up at 5:30. Mira even came home from camp for this. We got in the car around 6:10 and somehow, being in the car seemed to be bad luck. We got caught in a massive traffic jam that involved just not moving and being yelled at by some jerks. My mother was afraid we would miss the flight coming in, and we were all pretty annoyed. And on the way back, there was more traffic because of a bad car accident. Plus other little things, like having no gas in the tank.
We didn't miss the flight. We stood around for awhile and talked to other people who came to welcome my cousins and other people who were there. Then it was announced that the flight had landed, so we all went outside (regretting that we couldn't see it land like we could in previous years when NBN was smaller). Mira and I moved around looking for a good place to stand with the sign I made and stood there for some more time waiting for the people to show up. We ran around a bit, because the shuttles with the Olim came to different places in front of us, and just waited because all of my family was on the 3rd shuttle. But they finally did come, and gave everyone a million breathless hugs, and then we went inside to calm down. The sign thing didn't really work well, but that was OK. And then we just talked to them and hung out, realizing that they're really here and not going home this time... because they are home! LOL. And then there were speeches, which I didn't listen to so much, except when they said something that required applause or cheering, which I did excitedly. I was in something of a good mood. Then we left and went home, and they came home an hour-ish later.
So now everybody's here. They're all staying with us now, but my cousins are moving in with a friend in Neve Daniel in a few days and into their house there when it's ready. Savta is moving to her apartment in Yerushalayim in August. And we're all still getting over the euphoria.
So yeah. Today, the first Nefesh B'Nefesh flight of the summer landed in Tel Aviv, and my grandmother, my uncle and his family were on it. Now they're all Israeli!
So I got up at 5:30. Mira even came home from camp for this. We got in the car around 6:10 and somehow, being in the car seemed to be bad luck. We got caught in a massive traffic jam that involved just not moving and being yelled at by some jerks. My mother was afraid we would miss the flight coming in, and we were all pretty annoyed. And on the way back, there was more traffic because of a bad car accident. Plus other little things, like having no gas in the tank.
We didn't miss the flight. We stood around for awhile and talked to other people who came to welcome my cousins and other people who were there. Then it was announced that the flight had landed, so we all went outside (regretting that we couldn't see it land like we could in previous years when NBN was smaller). Mira and I moved around looking for a good place to stand with the sign I made and stood there for some more time waiting for the people to show up. We ran around a bit, because the shuttles with the Olim came to different places in front of us, and just waited because all of my family was on the 3rd shuttle. But they finally did come, and gave everyone a million breathless hugs, and then we went inside to calm down. The sign thing didn't really work well, but that was OK. And then we just talked to them and hung out, realizing that they're really here and not going home this time... because they are home! LOL. And then there were speeches, which I didn't listen to so much, except when they said something that required applause or cheering, which I did excitedly. I was in something of a good mood. Then we left and went home, and they came home an hour-ish later.
So now everybody's here. They're all staying with us now, but my cousins are moving in with a friend in Neve Daniel in a few days and into their house there when it's ready. Savta is moving to her apartment in Yerushalayim in August. And we're all still getting over the euphoria.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
I hate this guy.
At least as much as it's possible to hate someone without feeling guilty about it.
A couple months ago, Joel Stein wrote an article that was put in the Jerusalem Post. I read it, and hated it. The jist of it was this: I don't care about your baby. I'm not interested in seeing pictures of him. All babies look the same.
That bothered me, so I cut out the article and put it up on the fridge as a weird form of venting. My mother took it down.
The other day, his name popped into my head again, and I don't know why. But I googled him and found his site. It wasn't much better. Especially because there was an article on there that said something along the lines of: Harry Potter is stupid and a waste of time for anyone over 13. Shut up, Joel. Go hang out with Laura Mallory. (Poor Laura Mallory has been turned into the definition of evil within the HP fandom.) And there was another one that said, don't call me when you're driving, not because it's dangerous but because you'll bore me. I kinda wanted to hit him.
A couple months ago, Joel Stein wrote an article that was put in the Jerusalem Post. I read it, and hated it. The jist of it was this: I don't care about your baby. I'm not interested in seeing pictures of him. All babies look the same.
That bothered me, so I cut out the article and put it up on the fridge as a weird form of venting. My mother took it down.
The other day, his name popped into my head again, and I don't know why. But I googled him and found his site. It wasn't much better. Especially because there was an article on there that said something along the lines of: Harry Potter is stupid and a waste of time for anyone over 13. Shut up, Joel. Go hang out with Laura Mallory. (Poor Laura Mallory has been turned into the definition of evil within the HP fandom.) And there was another one that said, don't call me when you're driving, not because it's dangerous but because you'll bore me. I kinda wanted to hit him.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Randomness
I'm so happy! Know how For Better or For Worse is ending soon, so the plots are working towards something resembling a season finale? First of all, I'm not sure it's actually ending. But that's completely besides the point. The point is, there is something I've been waiting for, to happen to a certain Elizabeth Patterson (who is a member of the Patterson family which FBorFW is focused on) and IT REALLY HAPPENED!!! I always knew it was going to happen, but I just wanted it to come already! Thank you, Lynn Johnston! :-) Now, whoever reads this, if you're a FBorFW fan, I hope you've read today's strip (5 July) already, and are as happy as I am, and if you're not a fan, go check out today's strip anyway, and you'll understand why I'm so happy...
Wow. That was weird. On the other hand, if this is how I reacted to that, I can't wait to see my own reaction (and everyone else's) when Voldemort dies and Harry and Ginny get married and have 12 babies... LOL.
Now is the part where my summer really starts. I've been saying that for awhile, but now I've really started studying for all the things I have to study for... and that Psychometric stuff is really boring!
Oh, and I have a cold of some sort. My nose is snuffy. (Noam said that once.) I feel gross.
Wow. That was weird. On the other hand, if this is how I reacted to that, I can't wait to see my own reaction (and everyone else's) when Voldemort dies and Harry and Ginny get married and have 12 babies... LOL.
Now is the part where my summer really starts. I've been saying that for awhile, but now I've really started studying for all the things I have to study for... and that Psychometric stuff is really boring!
Oh, and I have a cold of some sort. My nose is snuffy. (Noam said that once.) I feel gross.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Blue Sox vs. Pioneers
Last week, Israel got its very own professional baseball league. And tonight, I went to my first Israel Baseball League game. It was the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox vs. the Petach Tikva Pioneers. (IMHO, whoever made up the names of the six teams in the league did a pretty lousy job.) When I got to the field, which is in the middle of a corn field in Kibbutz Gezer (each field is the home of two teams) the first thing I thought was that this was more similar to my cousins' Little League games I went to last summer than any other professional game I've ever been to. It was very cute, thought at first I was thinking more along the lines of pathetic.
The fact is, the game was very different from most professional games. For one thing, it was only 7 innings. I don't know whose idea that was, but it was pretty weird. And the whole stadium, and the huge screens, and the massive amounts of fans. Here it was two bleachers, a bunch of chairs, mostly full, and a few girls from some birthright-like program who got really into the cheering and a little bit annoying. On the plus side, there was Burger's Bar.
As it happens, this game was a bit historic. Petach Tikva scored four runs in the first few innings, and Bet Shemesh didn't get anything. Then in the 5th inning, Bet Shemesh got two runs, and in the 7th got two runs simultaneously. This called for a tiebreaker in the form of a home run derby, which is where each team sends three players, each player gets six swings pitched by one of their teammates, and the team with the most home runs wins. And then that was also tied... So they had to have a meeting to figure out what to do next. They ended up repeating the concept with one player each, and Bet Shemesh won.
Wow. I highly doubt I've ever written that much about a baseball game. Goodness knows I probably got the terms all wrong.
And speaking of the terms, baseball terms don't exist in Hebrew. They were all kinda transliterated, which was somewhat amusing.
So since the whole league is kind of small, it makes it that much cuter. The players are into talking to the fans, and this one Blue Sox player kept throwing balls over the fence while he practiced. When the Blue Sox won, they were all jumping around, they were so cute!
The thing with the IBL is that it really appeals mostly to Americans. I am somewhat American, and I didn't particuarly mind that the game brought out the American in me, but the fact is that most of Israelis don't like baseball much. It's just not an Israeli thing. Not to mention that a lot of the website and the commentary at the game is in English. So there's a chance that it won't survive. Sad.
But the bottom line is, it was a really cool game (not that I know anything about baseball, but I think it was) and a lot of fun! Except that the league is tiny.
The fact is, the game was very different from most professional games. For one thing, it was only 7 innings. I don't know whose idea that was, but it was pretty weird. And the whole stadium, and the huge screens, and the massive amounts of fans. Here it was two bleachers, a bunch of chairs, mostly full, and a few girls from some birthright-like program who got really into the cheering and a little bit annoying. On the plus side, there was Burger's Bar.
As it happens, this game was a bit historic. Petach Tikva scored four runs in the first few innings, and Bet Shemesh didn't get anything. Then in the 5th inning, Bet Shemesh got two runs, and in the 7th got two runs simultaneously. This called for a tiebreaker in the form of a home run derby, which is where each team sends three players, each player gets six swings pitched by one of their teammates, and the team with the most home runs wins. And then that was also tied... So they had to have a meeting to figure out what to do next. They ended up repeating the concept with one player each, and Bet Shemesh won.
Wow. I highly doubt I've ever written that much about a baseball game. Goodness knows I probably got the terms all wrong.
And speaking of the terms, baseball terms don't exist in Hebrew. They were all kinda transliterated, which was somewhat amusing.
So since the whole league is kind of small, it makes it that much cuter. The players are into talking to the fans, and this one Blue Sox player kept throwing balls over the fence while he practiced. When the Blue Sox won, they were all jumping around, they were so cute!
The thing with the IBL is that it really appeals mostly to Americans. I am somewhat American, and I didn't particuarly mind that the game brought out the American in me, but the fact is that most of Israelis don't like baseball much. It's just not an Israeli thing. Not to mention that a lot of the website and the commentary at the game is in English. So there's a chance that it won't survive. Sad.
But the bottom line is, it was a really cool game (not that I know anything about baseball, but I think it was) and a lot of fun! Except that the league is tiny.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Graduation trip?
My parents took me away for two days as a graduation gift, and I have to say it was a lot of fun.
We stayed at this place called Amirey Hagalil outside of Tzfat. It was really adorable! I felt like I was in the Dragonfly Inn from Gilmore Girls. The hotel is also a spa, and I discovered that whoever invented terry robes is a genius, though I was kinda self conscious wearing it through the lobby to my first ever spa treatment... I don't like massages, but I got a facial and it was actually pretty cool. Very relaxing...
For dinner last night we went to this quaint place on the outskirts of Tzfat. It was a bit confusing to find, but it was worth it. It had a cute, Tzfat-like ambiance and the food was really good. (I was impressed that my ravioli was natural-colored on one side and pink on the other.) We left the place completely stuffed, and then crashed back at the hotel.
After my facial, we went to Zichron Yaakov and walked around there. We read some of the signs about the history of the Moshava (Moshava means colony or settlement and there are only 2 or 3 places in Israel that are still referred to like that) and called this number they have where you can listen to recordings with explanations, but that kind of flopped. This is one of the oldest settlements in Israel and is named after the Baron Rothschild's father, because of the Baron's help. It's also one of the cutest places I've been to in awhile. We walked along the main street, going into random art stores and such. We had lunch at the most charming (and one of the few Kosher) place in that very charming area.
I've been trying to find a Stars Hollow in Israel that I can actually live in. Zichron may actually be it. It's so cute, there may be enough people there that are my type, but I'm not sure if it's too big. Oh, well. It's not like I need to decide now.
On a completely unrelated note (I always say that, don't I?), I got the results of the third and last WOMBAT back and I got the highest grade possible. I got the same grade on the second one, yet I just passed the first, which, ironically, was the easiest. What I thought was cool was that along with my award I got a recommendation to apply for a teaching job at Hogwarts. If only I could...
We stayed at this place called Amirey Hagalil outside of Tzfat. It was really adorable! I felt like I was in the Dragonfly Inn from Gilmore Girls. The hotel is also a spa, and I discovered that whoever invented terry robes is a genius, though I was kinda self conscious wearing it through the lobby to my first ever spa treatment... I don't like massages, but I got a facial and it was actually pretty cool. Very relaxing...
For dinner last night we went to this quaint place on the outskirts of Tzfat. It was a bit confusing to find, but it was worth it. It had a cute, Tzfat-like ambiance and the food was really good. (I was impressed that my ravioli was natural-colored on one side and pink on the other.) We left the place completely stuffed, and then crashed back at the hotel.
After my facial, we went to Zichron Yaakov and walked around there. We read some of the signs about the history of the Moshava (Moshava means colony or settlement and there are only 2 or 3 places in Israel that are still referred to like that) and called this number they have where you can listen to recordings with explanations, but that kind of flopped. This is one of the oldest settlements in Israel and is named after the Baron Rothschild's father, because of the Baron's help. It's also one of the cutest places I've been to in awhile. We walked along the main street, going into random art stores and such. We had lunch at the most charming (and one of the few Kosher) place in that very charming area.
I've been trying to find a Stars Hollow in Israel that I can actually live in. Zichron may actually be it. It's so cute, there may be enough people there that are my type, but I'm not sure if it's too big. Oh, well. It's not like I need to decide now.
On a completely unrelated note (I always say that, don't I?), I got the results of the third and last WOMBAT back and I got the highest grade possible. I got the same grade on the second one, yet I just passed the first, which, ironically, was the easiest. What I thought was cool was that along with my award I got a recommendation to apply for a teaching job at Hogwarts. If only I could...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wow.
How many times can you hear the song "Mamma Mia" in one night? I thought about that a bit last night, as I was leaving the basketball stadium in Tel Aviv that was transformed into a theater for the international touring company of Mamma Mia!
This musical is based on the music of ABBA. I've been thinking that I actually like their music more than I think I do, and I certainly don't listen to it enough. We listened to their CD on the way to the stadium, to get into the mood, and it certainly worked.
I was very curious about how they'd work the ABBA songs into the storyline of the musical, and I was so surprised at the result. The plot was completely built around the songs. I've heard it said that the storyline is kind of thin, but I really loved it. It's just the cute, fairy tale-like thing that makes me smile. And some of the best ABBA songs, from "Mamma Mia" to "Dancing Queen" really fit in, as well as any song fits into the musical it was written for.
I'd heard the audience was invited to sing along, and I have to say I thought that was a little weird. What's the point of a Broadway-level musical, if you can't hear the cast's awesome voices? But the singing actually turned out to be really nice, and the voices were quite audible.
So, the musical is about Sophie, who was raised on a Greek island by her single mother, Donna. Sophie is about to get married and wants her father to give her away. She therefore invites three men Donna mentioned in her hidden diary, who may be her father. She does this without telling Donna, and in the hopes that when she meets the men, she'll know instantly which is her father. Needless to say, things don't happen exactly as she plans... and I think I'll stop there.
It's so much more fun to see a musical when you know the songs. I saw The Lion King on Broadway three years ago, and it was great knowing the music, as I'm sure most of the audience did. But in Mamma Mia! everyone knew the songs, but nobody knew when they would come. So every time someone started singing, you feel this collective smile or cheer among the audience. It was really cool.
One last thing, apparently Mamma Mia!'s being made into a movie! That's one I'll be looking forward to seeing.
This musical is based on the music of ABBA. I've been thinking that I actually like their music more than I think I do, and I certainly don't listen to it enough. We listened to their CD on the way to the stadium, to get into the mood, and it certainly worked.
I was very curious about how they'd work the ABBA songs into the storyline of the musical, and I was so surprised at the result. The plot was completely built around the songs. I've heard it said that the storyline is kind of thin, but I really loved it. It's just the cute, fairy tale-like thing that makes me smile. And some of the best ABBA songs, from "Mamma Mia" to "Dancing Queen" really fit in, as well as any song fits into the musical it was written for.
I'd heard the audience was invited to sing along, and I have to say I thought that was a little weird. What's the point of a Broadway-level musical, if you can't hear the cast's awesome voices? But the singing actually turned out to be really nice, and the voices were quite audible.
So, the musical is about Sophie, who was raised on a Greek island by her single mother, Donna. Sophie is about to get married and wants her father to give her away. She therefore invites three men Donna mentioned in her hidden diary, who may be her father. She does this without telling Donna, and in the hopes that when she meets the men, she'll know instantly which is her father. Needless to say, things don't happen exactly as she plans... and I think I'll stop there.
It's so much more fun to see a musical when you know the songs. I saw The Lion King on Broadway three years ago, and it was great knowing the music, as I'm sure most of the audience did. But in Mamma Mia! everyone knew the songs, but nobody knew when they would come. So every time someone started singing, you feel this collective smile or cheer among the audience. It was really cool.
One last thing, apparently Mamma Mia!'s being made into a movie! That's one I'll be looking forward to seeing.
Monday, June 18, 2007
I graduated!
What can I say? It was wonderful. Not that the ceremony was really anything special, just that it was my graduation. I'm done. I've already updated my status on Facebook to say that I'm a high school graduate. Because I am.
I'm really tired, so we'll leave this here for now.
I'm really tired, so we'll leave this here for now.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Titanic
I saw this movie for the second time last night. I'd been telling my friend Adina that she has to see it, for a very long time. She'd been telling me I need to see the Pirates of the Carribean movies for just as long. We eventually decided to watch all 3 of those movies (the 3rd Pirates isn't available on DVD yet) and Titanic was the first of the three, so we watched it last night.
So I saw Titanic for the first time two years ago. I remembered most of it, but it just does something to you. It's just so sad, seeing that huge unsinkable ship falling apart and going down, not to mention all the people on it. I love the acting in the movie, it's just... wow.
Actually, now that I think about it, I think I appreciated it more the 2nd time. Possibly because now I know how it ends, or maybe because now I can pay more attention to the details. And get very frustrated at all those snobby rich people. Anyway, I just loved it.
BTW, I'm graduating tonight. More on that later...
EDIT: I should also mention that two years ago, I wouldn't have thought to say, "Why don't they just brake it?" Yes, I really did say that.
So I saw Titanic for the first time two years ago. I remembered most of it, but it just does something to you. It's just so sad, seeing that huge unsinkable ship falling apart and going down, not to mention all the people on it. I love the acting in the movie, it's just... wow.
Actually, now that I think about it, I think I appreciated it more the 2nd time. Possibly because now I know how it ends, or maybe because now I can pay more attention to the details. And get very frustrated at all those snobby rich people. Anyway, I just loved it.
BTW, I'm graduating tonight. More on that later...
EDIT: I should also mention that two years ago, I wouldn't have thought to say, "Why don't they just brake it?" Yes, I really did say that.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Wow, summer.
Today was one of those days that makes you realize how summery it actually is. Actually, scratch that. The word "summery" has a positive connotation, and that's not what I meant.
First of all, I had a driving lesson, and the heat combined with the bad night's sleep I got last night made me really tired. Then I made the mistake of going shopping in town, out of an urgent need for skirts. That heat was disgusting, I wasnt very successful in shopping (where can you get skirts in this city except in Chor BaKir?) and I had a repeat of my tendency to make mistakes in figuring out the best way to get home, so I got home 2 hours after I finished shopping. And it's so hot outside, which made waiting for buses even worse!
On a completely unrelated note, I'm still re-listening to all of the old Muggle- and PotterCasts. I'm now up to the episodes from the time of the announcement of the release date, and I'm remembering how depressed I was when I first heard it. I remember calling my friend Adina, and saying, "Did you see MuggleNet today?" in the saddest voice you can imagine. I remember being in very desperate need of a hug.
And speaking of my friend Harry, look at this beautiful cover art for the deluxe edition of Deathly Hallows. I just get the feeling something awesome is happening in that picture. It has a good feeling.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
The summer syndrome...
...for lack of a better word...
So my summer basically started today. Now, today wasn't the best of days, because it involved a lot of time in the sun (and not sun as in fun in the sun, sun as in disgustingly hot) and I'm a "turn up the AC and I'll wear 3 sweatshirts" girl.
But seriously, don't those days go by so fast, and you just don't do anything, even though you have a massive to-do list? Is it the heat, that just makes us move slowly? Or is it the mentality that I have the whole summer to do it?
In any case, I had a driving lesson this morning, sat in the sun for an hour waiting for the very late bus home, ended up davening only when I got home at 12, and then didn't do much else. Just a little bit. On the plus side, I filled in all but nine words in today's Quick Crossword in the Jerusalem Post. BTW, crosswords are my new thing.
So my summer basically started today. Now, today wasn't the best of days, because it involved a lot of time in the sun (and not sun as in fun in the sun, sun as in disgustingly hot) and I'm a "turn up the AC and I'll wear 3 sweatshirts" girl.
But seriously, don't those days go by so fast, and you just don't do anything, even though you have a massive to-do list? Is it the heat, that just makes us move slowly? Or is it the mentality that I have the whole summer to do it?
In any case, I had a driving lesson this morning, sat in the sun for an hour waiting for the very late bus home, ended up davening only when I got home at 12, and then didn't do much else. Just a little bit. On the plus side, I filled in all but nine words in today's Quick Crossword in the Jerusalem Post. BTW, crosswords are my new thing.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
It's all over!!!!
So. I had a chemistry bagrut today. Actually, I had my last bagrut today. (Almost. We'll ignore that little detail for now.) So I'm freeee! The bagrut went well, and unless I undergo a massive change of mind, I'm never going to study chemistry again.
After the bagrut, we had a party with my chemistry class at my teacher's house. That was a lot of fun. My teacher is such a cutie! For the most part, we just said our goodbyes... but it was fun. We ordered chemistry T-shirts, and took a lot of pictures. And we bought thank-you gifts for the teacher- a basketball, which we all signed, because she plays, and a lava lamp, which she gave us an explanation as to how it works.
Going home, I wore this shirt, which says, in Hebrew, "So now we know that proteins are made up of amino acids." I felt like I could have worn this shirt to my audition for Beauty and the Geek, if only I were a guy. That, and in my bag I had a paper cup with the periodic table on it that my teacher had brought back from Toronto. So nerdy, but I didn't mind. Mainly because I knew most of my classmates were wearing the same shirt all over the city...
On the way home, I had a short phase of being very sad that school is over. Basically, life as I know it is really over, although not officially yet, because I haven't graduated. I haven't not gone to school since I was 3, and I haven't worked for more than a summer... in this lifetime. Oh, and I really loved high school. (And things got slightly worse when I saw the word "last" in the show notes for this week's PotterCast, because this is the last episode before they go on tour, which will be fun, but after that, there's no more Potter...)
OK, now I need an abrupt change of subject, because I like to post on here whenever I see a good movie. And this week's subject is none other than The Princess Bride! I saw a tiny snippet of it, years ago, and I thought it looked either stupid or scary- I don't remember which one it was. Anyway, I had always been told that "you have to see this movie, it's a classic!" but that first impression had stuck with me and I just had no desire to see it. Anyway my teacher said she loves that movie, and she had it in the house, so we watched it. Let me tell you, that movie is really a classic. It's funny, it's a fairy tale, and I've heard a lot of praise for that duel- and it completely deserves it! I'm not a big fan of action, but that was so cool. So, that was a lot of fun.
One last note: I finally caved in and got Facebook... and that's all for now.
After the bagrut, we had a party with my chemistry class at my teacher's house. That was a lot of fun. My teacher is such a cutie! For the most part, we just said our goodbyes... but it was fun. We ordered chemistry T-shirts, and took a lot of pictures. And we bought thank-you gifts for the teacher- a basketball, which we all signed, because she plays, and a lava lamp, which she gave us an explanation as to how it works.
Going home, I wore this shirt, which says, in Hebrew, "So now we know that proteins are made up of amino acids." I felt like I could have worn this shirt to my audition for Beauty and the Geek, if only I were a guy. That, and in my bag I had a paper cup with the periodic table on it that my teacher had brought back from Toronto. So nerdy, but I didn't mind. Mainly because I knew most of my classmates were wearing the same shirt all over the city...
On the way home, I had a short phase of being very sad that school is over. Basically, life as I know it is really over, although not officially yet, because I haven't graduated. I haven't not gone to school since I was 3, and I haven't worked for more than a summer... in this lifetime. Oh, and I really loved high school. (And things got slightly worse when I saw the word "last" in the show notes for this week's PotterCast, because this is the last episode before they go on tour, which will be fun, but after that, there's no more Potter...)
OK, now I need an abrupt change of subject, because I like to post on here whenever I see a good movie. And this week's subject is none other than The Princess Bride! I saw a tiny snippet of it, years ago, and I thought it looked either stupid or scary- I don't remember which one it was. Anyway, I had always been told that "you have to see this movie, it's a classic!" but that first impression had stuck with me and I just had no desire to see it. Anyway my teacher said she loves that movie, and she had it in the house, so we watched it. Let me tell you, that movie is really a classic. It's funny, it's a fairy tale, and I've heard a lot of praise for that duel- and it completely deserves it! I'm not a big fan of action, but that was so cool. So, that was a lot of fun.
One last note: I finally caved in and got Facebook... and that's all for now.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I want a puppy!
I'm not an animal person. At all. When we got those guinea pigs a year and a half ago, I was completely uninterested in them, not to mention so upset that we got them that I ended up creating this blog to cheer myself up. (OK, that was weird.) I refused to touch them, and I fed them once within the year that we had to. (I don't remember why, but I think I had to.) I thought it was a bit cool when they had babies, but that's the extent of it. I had nothing to do with the babies either. Oh, and I did rather enjoy naming them.
The fact remains, however, that three days ago, my family finally got satellite TV, and my brothers like Animal Planet. I watched some of it with them, and, AAARGH! Puppies are so cute!!! I want one. Yet somehow, I'm still not an animal person. Sad.
On an unrelated note, it was finally announced that by 2010, Universal Studios in Orlando will have a Harry Potter section. I don't know what the chances are that I'll get over there, but it still looks pretty cool.
Can someone give me a puppy? *sad puppy face*
The fact remains, however, that three days ago, my family finally got satellite TV, and my brothers like Animal Planet. I watched some of it with them, and, AAARGH! Puppies are so cute!!! I want one. Yet somehow, I'm still not an animal person. Sad.
On an unrelated note, it was finally announced that by 2010, Universal Studios in Orlando will have a Harry Potter section. I don't know what the chances are that I'll get over there, but it still looks pretty cool.
Can someone give me a puppy? *sad puppy face*
Sunday, May 27, 2007
I never thought the day would come...
...where I would tell my brothers, "Stop talking about Harry Potter and go to sleep!" But it has. I should be ashamed of myself, not to mention, that's so hypocritical. But my brothers are obsessive about things, and they talk a lot in bed. They're three chapters into the first HP book (and of course, I keep requesting to be the one who puts them to bed, so I can read to them), and now Noam keeps running back to my room to ask things like "Is the part where Uncle Vernon sleeps in a sleeping bag in the movie?" and to ask me just how scary the movies are. I don't know why the movie is so important to them, but then, I'm not as much a fan of the movies as I am of the books. So maybe I'm not that much of a hypocrite...
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Oh yeah.
I don't know how I forgot this in both of the posts I made today, but I preordered Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows today. 2 copies, one for me and one for my cool HP-obsessed cousin who'll be here by July 21st. :-)
Oh, and my new thing is Beauty and the Geek. Geeks are so cute...
Oh, and my new thing is Beauty and the Geek. Geeks are so cute...
Guess what I did?
I just read my first John Grisham book. My parents were raving about The Testament, having both read it, saying they couldn't put it down. It sounded good, and I've been into lawyer stuff (wow, that sounded blonde...) since I started reading Jodi Picoult's books, so I decided to read it.
The book was... OK. It did suck me in a little bit, and the plot is definitely interesting- it covers the will of a man worth $11 billion which he left entirely to his illegitimate daughter nobody ever heard of instead of his idiotic kids, just before jumping out the window. It doesn't help much that this daughter is a missionary living in a jungle in Brazil.
That's the story, basically. It was kinda a cool book, but I don't know how many more of his I'll read.
The book was... OK. It did suck me in a little bit, and the plot is definitely interesting- it covers the will of a man worth $11 billion which he left entirely to his illegitimate daughter nobody ever heard of instead of his idiotic kids, just before jumping out the window. It doesn't help much that this daughter is a missionary living in a jungle in Brazil.
That's the story, basically. It was kinda a cool book, but I don't know how many more of his I'll read.
*squee* I'm so happy!
My little brother, Natani (age 7), decided today that he wants to read Harry Potter. I was so happy, I hugged him something like a million times. Poor kid. But yeah, that made me so thrilled, and that was after a bad day. So welcome to the club, Natani!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Know how I love things that make you feel good?
That said, I watched such an awesome movie tonight! Elizabethtown. It just, like, makes you feel happy. Except for the little parts that make fun of death (wow, that was really pessimistic.) and the occasional weirdness, it just has such a great feeling.
In short, the movie is about Drew (Orlando Bloom), who's just lost his job after a massive failiure, and feels completely lost. Then his father dies, and Drew is sent to meet his father's family in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The combination of the small-town charm, all the things he learns about his father, and the influence of Claire (Kirsten Dunst), one of those really optimistic people, brought him back to finding himself. Actually, it sounds a bit like Cars when I put it like that, just it's not animated.
So this movie had a lot of the small town/road trip across America stuff that I love. You take that and put it with great background music, and it's not at all surprising that I loved this movie. Not to mention, Orlando Bloom is so cute...
To change the subject, I kinda feel like my father and I are in surgery. We're trying to fix my computer- or rather, he's trying, and I'm the worried relative he reports back to. Nothing life-threatening, I don't need him to tell me that, but it's just been slow (and it's not even four years old, *sniff*) and some of the changes he did yesterday actually had some negative consequences, which just means we need more work. Oh, well. At least I'm back in the XP look.
Shabbat Shalom!
In short, the movie is about Drew (Orlando Bloom), who's just lost his job after a massive failiure, and feels completely lost. Then his father dies, and Drew is sent to meet his father's family in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The combination of the small-town charm, all the things he learns about his father, and the influence of Claire (Kirsten Dunst), one of those really optimistic people, brought him back to finding himself. Actually, it sounds a bit like Cars when I put it like that, just it's not animated.
So this movie had a lot of the small town/road trip across America stuff that I love. You take that and put it with great background music, and it's not at all surprising that I loved this movie. Not to mention, Orlando Bloom is so cute...
To change the subject, I kinda feel like my father and I are in surgery. We're trying to fix my computer- or rather, he's trying, and I'm the worried relative he reports back to. Nothing life-threatening, I don't need him to tell me that, but it's just been slow (and it's not even four years old, *sniff*) and some of the changes he did yesterday actually had some negative consequences, which just means we need more work. Oh, well. At least I'm back in the XP look.
Shabbat Shalom!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Yom Yerushalayim has come and gone...
Today was the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. That's not something to look down upon, considering the young age of our country. For us, 40 years is a long time.
Over the past week, I thought a bit about what I'd write here today. I didn't come up with anything, either because inspiration just didn't strike, or because I'm somewhat preoccupied with school. But I thought I should mention it anyway.
In other news, it rained again today. I'm starting to think summer just isn't going to come...
So I'm out of school now- I'm there a couple times a week for tests and such. At home, I'm studying full time, and then I'm usually tired and ready for bed by 7ish. Not good. My mother is out of the country, which means a little extra work at home, (BTW: Noam lost his first 2 teeth! My baby brother is growing up...) and my computer is giving me issues that need to be fixed.
This is the benefit of having a father in high-tech, because I have no idea what he's doing. The one thing I do understand is that he changed the look of my computer from Windows XP look to Windows classic, because that will save memory or something like that. I don't like it, and since I have XP the old Windows 98 look clashes with everything on the computer... LOL I'm such a snob and I still have no idea what I'm talking about...
Anyway, I should stop rambling and go to sleep...
Over the past week, I thought a bit about what I'd write here today. I didn't come up with anything, either because inspiration just didn't strike, or because I'm somewhat preoccupied with school. But I thought I should mention it anyway.
In other news, it rained again today. I'm starting to think summer just isn't going to come...
So I'm out of school now- I'm there a couple times a week for tests and such. At home, I'm studying full time, and then I'm usually tired and ready for bed by 7ish. Not good. My mother is out of the country, which means a little extra work at home, (BTW: Noam lost his first 2 teeth! My baby brother is growing up...) and my computer is giving me issues that need to be fixed.
This is the benefit of having a father in high-tech, because I have no idea what he's doing. The one thing I do understand is that he changed the look of my computer from Windows XP look to Windows classic, because that will save memory or something like that. I don't like it, and since I have XP the old Windows 98 look clashes with everything on the computer... LOL I'm such a snob and I still have no idea what I'm talking about...
Anyway, I should stop rambling and go to sleep...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
OK, this is funny.
I found this link in the show notes for an old PotterCast, and it cracked me up. I didn't really get why this guy did this, but he put up a list of "The Top 100 Things I'd DoIf I Ever Became An Evil Overlord". He's basically making fun of all the bad guys, and it's just so funny because it's so true. I especially loved this right now, because I'm working on a fairy tale at the moment (in between school...) and I'm having trouble with my own evil overlord.
Anyway, the list includes things like this:
#20: Despite its proven stress-relieving effect, I will not indulge in maniacal laughter. When so occupied, it's too easy to miss unexpected developments that a more attentive individual could adjust to accordingly.
#76: If the hero runs up to my roof, I will not run up after him and struggle with him in an attempt to push him over the edge. I will also not engage him at the edge of a cliff. (In the middle of a rope-bridge over a river of molten lava is not even worth considering.)
Enjoy!
Anyway, the list includes things like this:
#20: Despite its proven stress-relieving effect, I will not indulge in maniacal laughter. When so occupied, it's too easy to miss unexpected developments that a more attentive individual could adjust to accordingly.
#76: If the hero runs up to my roof, I will not run up after him and struggle with him in an attempt to push him over the edge. I will also not engage him at the edge of a cliff. (In the middle of a rope-bridge over a river of molten lava is not even worth considering.)
Enjoy!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Welcome to America
It doesn't rain here in May. Ever. But this has been a really weird year anyway. Winter showed up really late, and then it just didn't leave. And now it's raining. But my window's open, and it smells good. (Though the open window lets in the sounds of the workers next door, and sometimes blocks out the PotterCast.)
Potter fans are so cool.
For a few months now, I've been re-listening to old PotterCasts and MuggleCasts. Actually, I've been listening to all of them in order, which is turning out to take years...
Anyway, I'm now up to the episodes from last summer, with all those events going on in Vegas and the beautiful Jo Rowling coming to New York. (HA! And we thought last summer was jam-packed and really cool.) Everything that happened involved hordes of people like me (except not me, even though I was in the country). It was just so cool. Potter people, when they get together, whether it's to support some cause, or to shriek like crazy at the sight of Emerson Spartz, or just to have fun, they just really show their strength. What other fandom is that huge?
And then you have Melissa Anelli and the book she's writing on this whole thing. That definitely couldn't happen anywhere else.
I just had to vent.
EDIT: PotterCast #50 just made me tear up. Wow.
Yeah, episode 50 is actually pretty great. Dobby is freeee, and what made me tear up was actually Melissa telling John and Sue that they're going to the NYC premiere of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That was so sweet...
Anyway, I'm now up to the episodes from last summer, with all those events going on in Vegas and the beautiful Jo Rowling coming to New York. (HA! And we thought last summer was jam-packed and really cool.) Everything that happened involved hordes of people like me (except not me, even though I was in the country). It was just so cool. Potter people, when they get together, whether it's to support some cause, or to shriek like crazy at the sight of Emerson Spartz, or just to have fun, they just really show their strength. What other fandom is that huge?
And then you have Melissa Anelli and the book she's writing on this whole thing. That definitely couldn't happen anywhere else.
I just had to vent.
EDIT: PotterCast #50 just made me tear up. Wow.
Yeah, episode 50 is actually pretty great. Dobby is freeee, and what made me tear up was actually Melissa telling John and Sue that they're going to the NYC premiere of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That was so sweet...
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
I have NO MORE SCHOOL!
Today was my last day of classes for something like a year or two! But this isn't too exciting, because I still have Bagruyot and stuff like that, and I'll probably have some kind of classes some time in the future anyway. Oh well.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Squeee! and my summer
Summer is THIS close, or at least that's how it feels. Maybe that's just me, just because I have 1 day of school left- and then I have a month of studying for Bagruyot. Actually, I can probably say it's summer already, at least in this country, because it's HOT.
Can anyone tell I'm in a good mood? I think I can attribute that to... PotterCast. What else is new?
So, yeah. On this week's wonderful Episode #88, the awesome PotterCasters announced that they're going on TOUR!
Let me clarify. I don't live in America, I hope that's obvious. I'm not even going to be there this summer. But I'm so so so so excited that the PotterCasters are going on tour, doing 23 live shows across America, and will be posting tons of podcasts, videos and pictures for unfortunate people like me who can't be there. So... just one more thing to make my summer more fun- and more packed.
So, my summer is going to be insanely busy. My almost-last Bagrut (chemistry) is on June 5th, which is very early. I graduate, as does Mira :-(, on June 17th. I'm going to see the international tour version of Mamma Mia! on the 18th in Tel Aviv. After this became the reason Mira and I are graduating on the same day (long story, don't ask), I really hope it's good!
On July 4th, I start the preparatory course for my psychometric test (which Israelis need to take in order to get into university). That means a lot of work over the summer, but I had to do it at some point. I'll also be studying for a very late Bagrut, to improve my math grade, on July 16th. And all this with massive amounts of PotterCast to entertain me while I study. And when I'm not studying, hopefully I'll be writing. And doing all that other stuff I've been meaning to do forever, like improving this blog.
On July 10th, I'll be at the airport early in the morning to watch my mother's entire side of the family making Aliyah on Nefesh B'Nefesh. We are all so psyched about this! And then most of them will be living with us for a couple of weeks, so that should be fun.
July 21st! Drumroll... As soon as Shabbat is over, I get in the car/on the bus and go to the mall to pick up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. And then I read it, and read it, and read it. And then it will be OVER. (BTW, I only realized a few days ago that Harry and I are graduating the same year. How weird is that?)
Then it's back to more studying. At some point, during the summer, we'll be going up north, and at another point I have a pre-sherut seminar.
And at the very end of the summer, I start my Sherut Leumi. Wow, I'm old. I've been in school for 12 years. That's a really really long time. (That was the very short reflective portion of this post. Now it's over.)
Anyway, I just hope it's an awesome summer. For everyone!
BTW, check this out. LOL.
Can anyone tell I'm in a good mood? I think I can attribute that to... PotterCast. What else is new?
So, yeah. On this week's wonderful Episode #88, the awesome PotterCasters announced that they're going on TOUR!
Let me clarify. I don't live in America, I hope that's obvious. I'm not even going to be there this summer. But I'm so so so so excited that the PotterCasters are going on tour, doing 23 live shows across America, and will be posting tons of podcasts, videos and pictures for unfortunate people like me who can't be there. So... just one more thing to make my summer more fun- and more packed.
So, my summer is going to be insanely busy. My almost-last Bagrut (chemistry) is on June 5th, which is very early. I graduate, as does Mira :-(, on June 17th. I'm going to see the international tour version of Mamma Mia! on the 18th in Tel Aviv. After this became the reason Mira and I are graduating on the same day (long story, don't ask), I really hope it's good!
On July 4th, I start the preparatory course for my psychometric test (which Israelis need to take in order to get into university). That means a lot of work over the summer, but I had to do it at some point. I'll also be studying for a very late Bagrut, to improve my math grade, on July 16th. And all this with massive amounts of PotterCast to entertain me while I study. And when I'm not studying, hopefully I'll be writing. And doing all that other stuff I've been meaning to do forever, like improving this blog.
On July 10th, I'll be at the airport early in the morning to watch my mother's entire side of the family making Aliyah on Nefesh B'Nefesh. We are all so psyched about this! And then most of them will be living with us for a couple of weeks, so that should be fun.
July 21st! Drumroll... As soon as Shabbat is over, I get in the car/on the bus and go to the mall to pick up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. And then I read it, and read it, and read it. And then it will be OVER. (BTW, I only realized a few days ago that Harry and I are graduating the same year. How weird is that?)
Then it's back to more studying. At some point, during the summer, we'll be going up north, and at another point I have a pre-sherut seminar.
And at the very end of the summer, I start my Sherut Leumi. Wow, I'm old. I've been in school for 12 years. That's a really really long time. (That was the very short reflective portion of this post. Now it's over.)
Anyway, I just hope it's an awesome summer. For everyone!
BTW, check this out. LOL.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
My life... is changing drastically.
I am a woman of many obsessions. I see/read/watch something, I like it, I Google it and I get hooked on it. This is my thing- I'm a fan of just about everything. And, ironically, at the same time when my school life is ending, a lot of these obsessions of mine are ending too:
- Harry Potter. I've been posting about this on here for 3 months now, ever since we found out that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the 7th and final HP book, will be released on July 21st, 2007. Needless to say, this makes me sad, especially since HP has been a huge part of my life longer than any of the other things on this list...
- For Better or For Worse. I've been reading this comic strip since sometime around 2002/3, and reading it daily online since 2005, maybe? I've never posted about it on here, but I feel like the Pattersons, the family it follows, are like my friends. Basically, the strip has been following Elly and John Patterson and their kids, Michael, Elizabeth and April, since 1979. Unlike most comic strips, these people grow up, and they actually have a life, not to mention a storyline. Consider that Mike was 3 when the strip started, and now he's married with 2 kids... Anyway, after almost 27 years, author Lynn Johnston is ending the strip this fall. The thing is, because there is actually a story, it feels like this is a TV show finale. Actually, I've noticed the plot has been getting more intense lately, like we're building up towards a season finale... and I can't wait to see what happens at the end! But it's still sad, I'm going to miss the Pattersons...
- Gilmore Girls. I don't really want to say this, but it's being considered to end the show after the 7th and current season. This may not really count, because nothing's decided yet, but the fact is, it may be over. (Of course, I haven't seen any of Season 7 yet, because it's not on DVD, but it doesn't stop it from being over.) BTW, if you're interested in getting involved, the GG fansite www.gilmoregirls.org is campaigning for an 8th season. If you want a Season 8, check it out here.
- High school. Yes, life as I know it is over. I'm going out into the world (*sniff*) and will be working for a change, not to mention not living at home!
So, yeah. My life is really changing. The good news is, maybe now that all this stuff is ending, I'll have more time! Or, maybe not.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Order of the Phoenix International Trailer
Tell me this doesn't look like the coolest Harry Potter movie to ever grace the silver screen...
Or tell me it's not very obvious I've just learned to post movies from YouTube?
Friday, April 20, 2007
Know how I love nostalgia?
So I found this on YouTube (as a result of a tendency I have to Google/Wikipedia anything I happen to think about) and it really took me back to when I was... really little. And the best part is that my brothers have picked up the song and keep singing it... My sister is about ready to kill me.
"And don't slam that- ...door!"
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Amish
I'm still rather obsessed with Plain Truth. That's not surprising. Actually, I'm less obsessed with the book than completely in awe of the Amish people. Or maybe I'm obsessed with them. In any case, they are just amazing people. They just live so simply, and they're so selfless. And they really don't feel that they're missing anything we have and they don't. I think that, regardless of religion, every one of us can look beyond the, um, interesting clothes and the lack of electricity, and learn from them.
Shabbat Shalom!
Shabbat Shalom!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
And... we're done!
I finished Plain Truth. I loved it! My Sister's Keeper is an awesome book, quite honestly one of the best books out there (Go read it!), but there was something really special about Plain Truth. I learned so much about the Amish people. Who knew that Amish teens are allowed to do things like go to movies or the mall before they're baptized at 18, or that their households are allowed to have appliances- as long as they run on gas? I didn't (but Jodi Picoult did, because she spent a week with the Amish), and just for that learning experience, Plain Truth is a great book. Other than that, since the book is about a murder trial, I also learned a lot about how the court system works. I'm not at all into the legal stuff, but I was fascinated by what goes on in there. My Sister's Keeper is also about a trial, but it's much simpler. I had no idea I liked that stuff. Maybe I should finally take my parents up on their advice and read some Grisham books...
Jut for a quick summary. Plain Truth begins with the discovery of a dead newborn in a barn in Amish country. Katie Fisher, and 18-year-old unmarried Amish girl, appears to be the baby's mother, and evidence is found that implies that Katie killed him. Ellie Hathaway, a very successful lawyer from Philadelphia, has just begun to question the morality of her career, when she's asked to defend Katie. In order to do so, she needs to get to know the Amish people up close- and therefore experiences a massive culture clash. She finds herself learning a lot about the Amish, and about herself as well.
I'm done writing now. Enjoy!
Jut for a quick summary. Plain Truth begins with the discovery of a dead newborn in a barn in Amish country. Katie Fisher, and 18-year-old unmarried Amish girl, appears to be the baby's mother, and evidence is found that implies that Katie killed him. Ellie Hathaway, a very successful lawyer from Philadelphia, has just begun to question the morality of her career, when she's asked to defend Katie. In order to do so, she needs to get to know the Amish people up close- and therefore experiences a massive culture clash. She finds herself learning a lot about the Amish, and about herself as well.
I'm done writing now. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Still reading...
I'm addicted to that book! I read it on the bus today, both directions, and if I get a chance I'll read some more today. I was thinking about the book the whole day, I'm so wrapped up in it.
Let me explain. I never read during the week, only on Shabbat, because I generally have a ton of work to do. I still have a ton of work to do, but I'm now putting a little time aside to read.
This is weird. Plain Truth will likely become the first book I've read within a week in a very long time. (Actually, I don't remember when I started Mirror Mirror but in any case that was during Pesach, so it doesn't count.) I can't remember when I've been in the middle of a book I absolutely refused to put down, but I'm rather enjoying it. Know what? Maybe I'll do this more often.
Let me explain. I never read during the week, only on Shabbat, because I generally have a ton of work to do. I still have a ton of work to do, but I'm now putting a little time aside to read.
This is weird. Plain Truth will likely become the first book I've read within a week in a very long time. (Actually, I don't remember when I started Mirror Mirror but in any case that was during Pesach, so it doesn't count.) I can't remember when I've been in the middle of a book I absolutely refused to put down, but I'm rather enjoying it. Know what? Maybe I'll do this more often.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Back to normal... and some book reviews
Yep, the Chag is over. I'm not particularly thrilled, especially because I just started a phenomenal, really intense book and am completely untinterested in putting it down.
The book is Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult, and I'm loving it. It's about an 18-year-old unmarried Amish girl who apparently gave birth and killed her child. She's on trial for murder, and yet she's Amish. I'm probably not describing it well, but this is just so cool. I'm learning a lot about the Amish- Jodi Picoult knows how to do her research, and is revealing a lot of surprising details about their way of life. The characters are just... amazing. Each in their own way. I'm formulating all these opinions about them, and I can't wait to find out who I was right about. Oh, and I believe there was something in the book that would have made me cry if I hadn't been sitting at a bus stop in Yerushalayim when I read it. Basically, I can't put it down, which is ironically something I don't remember experiencing with My Sister's Keeper, by the same author, which has been THE book everyone's been talking about lately. That was also an awesome book, and I would have thought I'd like it better than Plain Truth. But I guess I'm not really ready to decide which one I liked better yet. Anyway, I'm loving this book.
Speaking of books, I just finished Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire, and I have to say I was disappointed. Following his pattern, this book was based on the story of Snow White, not really from anyone's perspective, just with a different twist. It takes place in 16th century Italy, but he didn't eliminate all the magic like he did with Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. Don't worry, the dwarfs and the mirror are still in. Although they don't have the Disney names, and they do have an extra brother. (Speaking of which, I just quizzed myself and discovered that I still do know all of the Disney names, and I'm sure I haven't seen Snow White since I was, I don't know, 6 maybe? But get this: Happy, Doc, Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy and Bashful. Go me!) Anyway, Mirror Mirror wasn't one of his better books. The wicked queen was somewhat disturbing, not to mention pure evil, and she was a big part of the reason why I didn't like the book. So if you're going to read a Gregory Maguire book, go choose another one. Nothing beats Wicked...
And just one more thing. I never mentioned the other book I read recently, which I should have mentioned because I loved it. Looking for Peyton Place, by Barbara Delinsky. The protagonist is Annie, who's grown up in Middle River, New Hampshire, a town that claims that Peyton Place was based on it. Annie never really fit in there, but as a writer she found herself growing up under the influence, for lack of a better word, of Grace Metalious, who wrote Peyton Place. The plot of the story is Annie, now a bestselling novelist, looking into an issue that's affecting the people of Middle River, but they're all wary of her, because she may be writing a book about them. Anyway, aside from being completely heartwarming and having a good feeling, I loved this book because it involves two things that always make me happy: writing and cute little American towns. This was such a cute book!
OK, now I'm done with the reviews. So today I did a science experiment with the boys. Someone gave us this crystal making kit, so we followed the instructions and now we need to wait a week to see if it worked, or in other words how badly I messed it up...
I think I had something else to say, but I seem to have forgotten what it was. Oh well.
The book is Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult, and I'm loving it. It's about an 18-year-old unmarried Amish girl who apparently gave birth and killed her child. She's on trial for murder, and yet she's Amish. I'm probably not describing it well, but this is just so cool. I'm learning a lot about the Amish- Jodi Picoult knows how to do her research, and is revealing a lot of surprising details about their way of life. The characters are just... amazing. Each in their own way. I'm formulating all these opinions about them, and I can't wait to find out who I was right about. Oh, and I believe there was something in the book that would have made me cry if I hadn't been sitting at a bus stop in Yerushalayim when I read it. Basically, I can't put it down, which is ironically something I don't remember experiencing with My Sister's Keeper, by the same author, which has been THE book everyone's been talking about lately. That was also an awesome book, and I would have thought I'd like it better than Plain Truth. But I guess I'm not really ready to decide which one I liked better yet. Anyway, I'm loving this book.
Speaking of books, I just finished Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire, and I have to say I was disappointed. Following his pattern, this book was based on the story of Snow White, not really from anyone's perspective, just with a different twist. It takes place in 16th century Italy, but he didn't eliminate all the magic like he did with Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. Don't worry, the dwarfs and the mirror are still in. Although they don't have the Disney names, and they do have an extra brother. (Speaking of which, I just quizzed myself and discovered that I still do know all of the Disney names, and I'm sure I haven't seen Snow White since I was, I don't know, 6 maybe? But get this: Happy, Doc, Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy and Bashful. Go me!) Anyway, Mirror Mirror wasn't one of his better books. The wicked queen was somewhat disturbing, not to mention pure evil, and she was a big part of the reason why I didn't like the book. So if you're going to read a Gregory Maguire book, go choose another one. Nothing beats Wicked...
And just one more thing. I never mentioned the other book I read recently, which I should have mentioned because I loved it. Looking for Peyton Place, by Barbara Delinsky. The protagonist is Annie, who's grown up in Middle River, New Hampshire, a town that claims that Peyton Place was based on it. Annie never really fit in there, but as a writer she found herself growing up under the influence, for lack of a better word, of Grace Metalious, who wrote Peyton Place. The plot of the story is Annie, now a bestselling novelist, looking into an issue that's affecting the people of Middle River, but they're all wary of her, because she may be writing a book about them. Anyway, aside from being completely heartwarming and having a good feeling, I loved this book because it involves two things that always make me happy: writing and cute little American towns. This was such a cute book!
OK, now I'm done with the reviews. So today I did a science experiment with the boys. Someone gave us this crystal making kit, so we followed the instructions and now we need to wait a week to see if it worked, or in other words how badly I messed it up...
I think I had something else to say, but I seem to have forgotten what it was. Oh well.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Happy Birthday!
I write. This is one of the things about me that I'm most proud of, even though I may not have done much with it yet. But for the past year, I've been brainstorming and writing and working on an untitled fairy tale. Yes, a fairy tale. I'm really excited about it, even though I haven't done much with it yet. I don't want to say much about the plot, but I really hope this might amount to something.
Anyway, today is the 3rd day of Pesach, and it was this day exactly a year ago when a long afternoon turned into a massive brainstorming session that turned into this fairy tale. I can't believe I've been living with these characters for a year already, and I can't believe how much they've changed.
So happy birthday to my brainstorm, I guess! I really don't know, but I hope I'll have more to report soon!
Anyway, today is the 3rd day of Pesach, and it was this day exactly a year ago when a long afternoon turned into a massive brainstorming session that turned into this fairy tale. I can't believe I've been living with these characters for a year already, and I can't believe how much they've changed.
So happy birthday to my brainstorm, I guess! I really don't know, but I hope I'll have more to report soon!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Chag Sameach!
Although the weather doesn't seem to agree, I'd like to wish everyone a happy Pesach!
On a completely unrelated note, I watched part of Shrek today because I needed stimulation while I ironed. I love nostalgia...
On a completely unrelated note, I watched part of Shrek today because I needed stimulation while I ironed. I love nostalgia...
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
In case anyone was wondering...
I now know what I'm doing next year. Finally. I'll be working in a school in Ariel, which is a city between Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv. The school has a mixture of kids, and in the afternoon I'll be working in the community. Be'ezrat Hashem, it looks good.
Monday, March 26, 2007
I have a new addiction...
... Which is really not news, because I get a new addiction every week. But never mind that.
Anyway, I know I'm a bit late in getting into this, but just last week I got hooked on SuDoKu. It's so much fun, and as nerdy as this sounds, I love feeding my brain! Unfortunately, this is the week I should be cleaning for Pesach...
Anyway, I know I'm a bit late in getting into this, but just last week I got hooked on SuDoKu. It's so much fun, and as nerdy as this sounds, I love feeding my brain! Unfortunately, this is the week I should be cleaning for Pesach...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Golan
I got back yesterday from my very last Tiyul Shnati. We were in the Golan for 3 days, and had a great time. Aside from the fact that I love being with my friends, the Golan is beyond beautiful this time of year. Also, I discovered that I just love taking pictures of scenery and things. It just makes me feel so good. Although it's a lot more fun to look at pictures of people.
On a completely unrelated note, here is a very cute Pesach video. Everybody go check it out!
On a completely unrelated note, here is a very cute Pesach video. Everybody go check it out!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Here's what's been running through my head lately...
I wrote this at around 11 PM last night, and I felt like sharing it:
In other unrelated news, it's been snowing on and off today, along with rain and hail. This is our second snow this winter, and it was actually a pretty warm winter, not to mention that snow in mid-march is quite unusual around here. That said, I have a massive test tomorrow and would have been home anyway! And I didn't have time to go out, although I'm not sure how nice it would have been outside. It still frustrated me, especially when the rest of my family was watching a movie, complete with hot chocolate, and I was up here studying...I was in Poland a year ago. An entire year ago. I find that so hard to
believe. Yet today is Kaf Daled Adar, and on this day a year ago I was in Warsaw with my classmates.When I got back from Poland, I felt that it had been a great and important experience, but I had no desire to go back there. Once is enough, I felt. I decided that if the opportunity to return ever arose, I would turn it down. I was also very sensitive, to just about everything- especially references to the Holocaust or to suffering. A few months later, I felt the sensitivity and the sheer impact of the trip starting to wear off. Yes, I still hate references to Nazism and such, much more than I did before my trip, and I still have my new understanding of the size of the Holocaust. But that was all I had. That was when I found myself changing my mind about going back there. If I ever get the chance, maybe I will take it. Because the Holocaust is not something to forget and move on.
Ever since I felt those feelings disappearing, I’ve been making an effort to take advantage of anything that brings me back there. When I hear music we listened to in Poland, I put my head down and let it conjure images in my mind of places where so much was lost for the Jewish People. This week, every day I’ve stopped and thought about where I was a year ago. I remember the tears, the dancing and the very long bus rides. And I just think about what an incredible experience it all was.
Tonight there is a big thunderstorm going on over here. We’ve been without power for over and hour. I’m sitting here writing this by the light of a candle, and it’s taking me back…
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I'm going through a weird phase.
Whenever I'm on my way somewhere and have nothing to do, I can't help but notice all these gorgeous cars. I'll see one and, find it quite attractive, and look to see who made it. It's really not funny. I feel like such a guy.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Hoops and Yoyo
I just discovered the cutest two guys in the history of the universe- Hoops and Yoyo. They are the theme for a whole series of e-cards on the Hallmark website. Their e-cards are adorable, but they have this whole site with literally everything you can imagine: a blog, a podcast, downloads of everything you can imagine (but don't download too much, and take that from someone who's had a lot of space issues on her computer lately), news posts, e-cards, naturally, scenes with Hoops and Yoyo talking, manners advice, and just, you know, everything else. So cute!
So, OK. I'm officially a fan of these guys. Their podcast is being downloaded onto my computer as I write this. Now everybody go check them out.
So, OK. I'm officially a fan of these guys. Their podcast is being downloaded onto my computer as I write this. Now everybody go check them out.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Purim in Yerushalayim
Today is Purim in Yerushalayim (it was yesterday in Efrat.) so I'm not celebrating it today. But I was in Yerushalayim this morning, and I just kinda loved being there, even though I wasn't in on the Purim stuff. My driving teacher had the radio on during my lesson, and they were playing Purim music. I had an hour to kill in the mall (because the bus schedule is a pain in the morning) and all these random employees were wearing hats and tiaras and such... kids at bus stops were in costume, and there were three buildings from Mini Israel on display at the mall that were advertising that kids in costume get in to Mini Israel for free...
In completely other news, I went into a bookstore in the mall to check, and I found out that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will indeed be in my wonderful country on July 21st. Yay!
In completely other news, I went into a bookstore in the mall to check, and I found out that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will indeed be in my wonderful country on July 21st. Yay!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
I'm young
After who knows how long of me going "I'm 18... I'm so old! I'm almost graduating high school... I'm so old!" I've finally discovered that I am, in fact, quite young. I watched Something's Gotta Give while babysitting for someone tonight, and it was a very cute movie. The thing is, it was about people who are just a bit older than me. And I didn't really like it all that much. I guess I am young...
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Our play!
Well, it's over. Our Purim play was phenomenal, if I may say so myself. My grade is so talented, and I'm so proud of us! And the backdrops- they paid off. We rose to the challenges the school posed for us, and as hard as it was, I'm happy we did. We took The Prince and the Pauper and turned it into something wonderful, and it was great.
After the play we had an "after-party" in a nearby park, and we had a great and hyper time till the last bus.
After the play we had an "after-party" in a nearby park, and we had a great and hyper time till the last bus.
Monday, February 26, 2007
The coolest Potter news since the announcement of the release date!
I was listening to PotterCast today, like I always do, and I had noticed in the show notes that Melissa had a big announcement. Being that I am quite in awe of Melissa, I was rather curious to hear what it was.
So. Get this: Melissa Anelli, of PotterCast and The Leaky Cauldron, is writing a book. Now, the staff of MuggleNet also wrote a book, which rather interested me, which is full of their opinions on what happens in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I didn't read it, but I was quite impressed that they did that.
But no. Melissa is writing a book on the experience of being a Harry Potter fan. The entire fandom, from the podcasts to the Wizard Rock (Potter-themed music). John and Sue will be starring in it... as will Dawlish.
This is just so awesome, because we've all gone through this same experience. This is a book I'll want to read, when it comes out in November 2008.
Oh, and the blog challenge for this week, courtesy of John Noe, is to design the teaser poster for the movie based on Melissa's book. That was a joke, and as it happens I have no idea what to put on that poster anyway.
So, I am so excited about this. Congratulations, Melissa! This totally made my day.
So. Get this: Melissa Anelli, of PotterCast and The Leaky Cauldron, is writing a book. Now, the staff of MuggleNet also wrote a book, which rather interested me, which is full of their opinions on what happens in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I didn't read it, but I was quite impressed that they did that.
But no. Melissa is writing a book on the experience of being a Harry Potter fan. The entire fandom, from the podcasts to the Wizard Rock (Potter-themed music). John and Sue will be starring in it... as will Dawlish.
This is just so awesome, because we've all gone through this same experience. This is a book I'll want to read, when it comes out in November 2008.
Oh, and the blog challenge for this week, courtesy of John Noe, is to design the teaser poster for the movie based on Melissa's book. That was a joke, and as it happens I have no idea what to put on that poster anyway.
So, I am so excited about this. Congratulations, Melissa! This totally made my day.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Aaah...
I just had to come in here and mention that I've been working full long days (till somewhere between 7 and 11) in school on backdrops and costumes for our Purim play. Sooo much work...
Thursday, February 15, 2007
This was my day
Oy, oy. First of all, I'm so stiff from my PE running Bagrut yesterday. Moving is painful.
That said, my grade is putting on our Hachtara, this massive Purim thing by the 12th grade, on Monday, so there was almost nobody in class because everyone was working on it. The few classes I was in were a joke because there were like 5 girls in there, so the teachers just talked to us about whatever was on their minds.
After that, during my free class, I had my 2nd 1st driving lesson- I finally switched teachers, and it's kind of hard to tell how good it was because I need to get used to the teacher and the car...
When I went back to school I didn't even have classes, because everyone was working on decorating the school. I joined them, so we just painted for the rest of the day.
This was my day. What else is new? My obsessions you may have seen in my previous posts are doing well, I'm over the HP date thing (at least for now), and my latest thing is listening to old PotterCasts and MuggleCasts, because they used to be so little...
Shabbat Shalom!
That said, my grade is putting on our Hachtara, this massive Purim thing by the 12th grade, on Monday, so there was almost nobody in class because everyone was working on it. The few classes I was in were a joke because there were like 5 girls in there, so the teachers just talked to us about whatever was on their minds.
After that, during my free class, I had my 2nd 1st driving lesson- I finally switched teachers, and it's kind of hard to tell how good it was because I need to get used to the teacher and the car...
When I went back to school I didn't even have classes, because everyone was working on decorating the school. I joined them, so we just painted for the rest of the day.
This was my day. What else is new? My obsessions you may have seen in my previous posts are doing well, I'm over the HP date thing (at least for now), and my latest thing is listening to old PotterCasts and MuggleCasts, because they used to be so little...
Shabbat Shalom!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
The Wizard of Oz: Followup
I watched this movie tonight because I've become somewhat obsessed with the other side of its story. I wanted to sit there watching it and just see it completely differently, because I love Elphaba and Glinda and the wizard is a jerk.
So... the first conclusion I came to is: I hate old movies.
Next, every time I saw Elphie in the movie, I had to keep repeating to myself that she's annoyed and misunderstood. I hated that. I love her, which is just another reason I have no desire to watch that movie too often...
And Glinda! I so prefer the dumb blonde. In the movie, she's this queen-like thing and never says anything like "The 'Ga' is silent."
The wizard was great. He is and will always be the idiotic phony he is. We don't like him.
BTW, I really liked the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. In Wicked the book, they were almost irrelevant, in the musical *ahem* less so. (This is the only thing I didn't like about the musical...) So there wasn't much for me to complain about regarding them. They were cute.
Anyway, that's it. Not really my thing...
So... the first conclusion I came to is: I hate old movies.
Next, every time I saw Elphie in the movie, I had to keep repeating to myself that she's annoyed and misunderstood. I hated that. I love her, which is just another reason I have no desire to watch that movie too often...
And Glinda! I so prefer the dumb blonde. In the movie, she's this queen-like thing and never says anything like "The 'Ga' is silent."
The wizard was great. He is and will always be the idiotic phony he is. We don't like him.
BTW, I really liked the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. In Wicked the book, they were almost irrelevant, in the musical *ahem* less so. (This is the only thing I didn't like about the musical...) So there wasn't much for me to complain about regarding them. They were cute.
Anyway, that's it. Not really my thing...
Euphoria
I love that word.
Today I handed in my very last Beintchumi. Ever. And don't go telling me about all those papers I'm going to have to write in my future school career, because I couldn't care less about them right now. I also functioned today on 3.5 hours of sleep, after going to bed last night at 3, got the paper printed even though the printer was acting up, and had time to get lost in town during my free class to bind it.
But now, I'm freeee! The euphoria came a bit late because I was falling over and because of that stupid printer, but I'm really free! Now for all of the things "I'm going to do after the Beintchumi..."
For one thing, I never ever watch movies. I'm watching a movie tonight- The Wizard of Oz, which I've wanted to see again ever since the summer, when I got a *ahem* new perspective after reading Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and especially after seeing the musical.
Anything else? Oh, we started advertising our Hachtara at school. More on that later...
Today I handed in my very last Beintchumi. Ever. And don't go telling me about all those papers I'm going to have to write in my future school career, because I couldn't care less about them right now. I also functioned today on 3.5 hours of sleep, after going to bed last night at 3, got the paper printed even though the printer was acting up, and had time to get lost in town during my free class to bind it.
But now, I'm freeee! The euphoria came a bit late because I was falling over and because of that stupid printer, but I'm really free! Now for all of the things "I'm going to do after the Beintchumi..."
For one thing, I never ever watch movies. I'm watching a movie tonight- The Wizard of Oz, which I've wanted to see again ever since the summer, when I got a *ahem* new perspective after reading Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and especially after seeing the musical.
Anything else? Oh, we started advertising our Hachtara at school. More on that later...
Thursday, February 01, 2007
It's really ending now!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is coming out on July 21st, 2007.
Let me rephrase that. My obsession is ending on July 21st, 2007.
I'm going to go sit in a corner and cry.
EDIT:I need to vent more. You should have seen me just now, walking around my house like a zombie. I'm really deppressed, and the weirdest thing is it was completely unexpected. I was always the person who said, "HP will be over, and I'll get on with my life. There are other things."
Scratch that. I was almost crying...
This summer is going to be insane. A movie, THE book 8 days later, and all those conventions you hear about... Oy.
OMG, this is making me tired now. I'm probably not finished venting yet, but that's all I have for now.
No, wait, I have more. Just think, if Harry dies (which is NOT happening!), he will be DEAD in 6 months.
Sorry about the mood...
Let me rephrase that. My obsession is ending on July 21st, 2007.
I'm going to go sit in a corner and cry.
EDIT:I need to vent more. You should have seen me just now, walking around my house like a zombie. I'm really deppressed, and the weirdest thing is it was completely unexpected. I was always the person who said, "HP will be over, and I'll get on with my life. There are other things."
Scratch that. I was almost crying...
This summer is going to be insane. A movie, THE book 8 days later, and all those conventions you hear about... Oy.
OMG, this is making me tired now. I'm probably not finished venting yet, but that's all I have for now.
No, wait, I have more. Just think, if Harry dies (which is NOT happening!), he will be DEAD in 6 months.
Sorry about the mood...
Monday, January 29, 2007
Aaah, what a day!
I got up at 4:50 (which sounds a lot worse than ten to five) for my father to drive me to Yerushalayim to take the 6:10 bus to Netanya to get a bus from there to Kfar Yona to be there by 9 for my Sayeret. I did not have coffee.
The Sayeret was not that great, but I'm not blaming that on the lack of caffeine. What I can blame on that was not being able to do anything useful on the ride home. I had coffee when I got home, wasn't able to do that much then either and now I have a bad headache. It may be a good idea to go to sleep soon...
The Sayeret was not that great, but I'm not blaming that on the lack of caffeine. What I can blame on that was not being able to do anything useful on the ride home. I had coffee when I got home, wasn't able to do that much then either and now I have a bad headache. It may be a good idea to go to sleep soon...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
I'm sad.
I lost my wallet, about 250 Shekels, my ID and a bunch of other useless stuff. The only thing I didn't lose is my driver's liscense, because I don't have one.
Speaking of which, my driving teacher as good as promised me that I'll be learning for a very very long time. Just one of those days I feel absolutely hopeless.
This is the worst part: I have a playlist on my iPod with a bunch of great songs with great beats that always cheer me up when I'm upset, and it didn't work!
Speaking of which, my driving teacher as good as promised me that I'll be learning for a very very long time. Just one of those days I feel absolutely hopeless.
This is the worst part: I have a playlist on my iPod with a bunch of great songs with great beats that always cheer me up when I'm upset, and it didn't work!
Monday, January 22, 2007
2006 Idiot of the Year
Listening to a discussion on this week's MuggleCast, I felt the need to vent about a certain Laura Mallory. This mother from Georgia was named "Idiot of the Year" by the Washington Post for trying, quite fruitlessly, I might add, since August 2005 to have the Harry Potter books taken out of the Gwinnet County schools. She believes that the books promote "evil themes, witchcraft, demonic activity, murder, evil blood sacrifice, spells and teaching children all of this." Thing is, the idiot never even read the books, just because they're too long. There was a hearing in April, and her request was rejected. Big surprise there. She appealed the decision, and they rejected her again. But no, that wasn't enough for her, so, without it ever occurring to her to read the books, she announced last week she's appealing again. Now she's collecting money for her "cause", and claims to have recieved "significant donations". She said: "We will take a stand for truth, and pray God will touch the hearts of this generation." To which Micah of MuggleCast responded: "You know, Laura, there is somebody who has already touched the hearts and minds of this generation. Her name is J.K. Rowling." Then there are some of us who believe that the two don't contradict each other.
I had to end up here with the official opinion of Emerson, MuggleNet's webmaster: "Ever seen a fly crash itself repeatedly into a transparent pane of glass, never quite getting the hint? Yeah."
I had to end up here with the official opinion of Emerson, MuggleNet's webmaster: "Ever seen a fly crash itself repeatedly into a transparent pane of glass, never quite getting the hint? Yeah."
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Sick days
Today of all days... Grrr... Although, I was quite happy to stay home today considering the weather.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Son of a Witch
I mentioned I was reading Son of a Witch, the sequel to Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West in a post I wrote a few weeks ago where I was venting about my obsession with Wicked, the musical. I said that I wasn't enjoying the book too much, because there weren't enough characters from Wicked and it was somewhat boring.
Everything I said about the book, I take back. I definitely liked it a lot. It wasn't Wicked, but that's pretty hard to be. I don't think I actually realized I liked it until the very end, with the appearance of a certain... someone I can't talk about in case I ruin the book for somebody. But that someone created the cliffhanger of the century, which is why I was thrilled to hear that Gregory Maguire (the author, in case I haven't mentioned him) is writing a third book, called A Cowardly War, supposedly having to do with the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz and Wicked. Anyway, the book was great. It happened quite a few times that I thought I detected a hint of a reference to the musical, which may have not actually been there but I liked them anyway because I'm obsessed with the musical, in case I haven't mentioned that before. I loved the dedication to the cast and creators of the musical, in the spirit of the dedication in the sequel to The Wizard of Oz. It was all great.
By the way, I just started another of his books, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I can't convey an opinion yet, but I will update when I do.
OK, that was freaky. I was writing this post, listening to ancient Leaky Mugs 'cause it's fun and home alone with my sleeping brothers, and suddenly it started raining and hailing really hard and loud, and there was tons of thunder and lightening and then the power (not to mention the computer) went off. It was really creepy, and then Mira called- she was babysitting for the neighbors, didn't know where to find a flashlight and couldn't find their number they'd left for her. Poor kid.
If I'm already posting on my blog, I should probably update on the Sherut Leumi status. Two Sayarot down, both in schools in Ariel and Kochav Yaakov, and two left, in special ed Ganim in Elkana and Kfar Yonah. Answers will come in a few weeks.
And I'm hard at work on my last Beintchumi, which is this big paper we have to write for school. The last one, and I can't wait for all the free time I get when I'm done!
Everything I said about the book, I take back. I definitely liked it a lot. It wasn't Wicked, but that's pretty hard to be. I don't think I actually realized I liked it until the very end, with the appearance of a certain... someone I can't talk about in case I ruin the book for somebody. But that someone created the cliffhanger of the century, which is why I was thrilled to hear that Gregory Maguire (the author, in case I haven't mentioned him) is writing a third book, called A Cowardly War, supposedly having to do with the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz and Wicked. Anyway, the book was great. It happened quite a few times that I thought I detected a hint of a reference to the musical, which may have not actually been there but I liked them anyway because I'm obsessed with the musical, in case I haven't mentioned that before. I loved the dedication to the cast and creators of the musical, in the spirit of the dedication in the sequel to The Wizard of Oz. It was all great.
By the way, I just started another of his books, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I can't convey an opinion yet, but I will update when I do.
OK, that was freaky. I was writing this post, listening to ancient Leaky Mugs 'cause it's fun and home alone with my sleeping brothers, and suddenly it started raining and hailing really hard and loud, and there was tons of thunder and lightening and then the power (not to mention the computer) went off. It was really creepy, and then Mira called- she was babysitting for the neighbors, didn't know where to find a flashlight and couldn't find their number they'd left for her. Poor kid.
If I'm already posting on my blog, I should probably update on the Sherut Leumi status. Two Sayarot down, both in schools in Ariel and Kochav Yaakov, and two left, in special ed Ganim in Elkana and Kfar Yonah. Answers will come in a few weeks.
And I'm hard at work on my last Beintchumi, which is this big paper we have to write for school. The last one, and I can't wait for all the free time I get when I'm done!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Public service announcement, courtesy of PotterCast:
(Although the Blog Challenge hasn't been around lately)
There is no release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There is a title, but we don't know if the book is coming out on 7/7/07, any other date in 2007, or any other date in the next century or so. Whatever else you may hear, is WRONG.
For further details, go to www.leakynews.com and scroll all the way to the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
There is no release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There is a title, but we don't know if the book is coming out on 7/7/07, any other date in 2007, or any other date in the next century or so. Whatever else you may hear, is WRONG.
For further details, go to www.leakynews.com and scroll all the way to the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
Monday, January 15, 2007
The fun has begun!
I had my first Sayeret today. A Sayeret is a day where I go see the place, and get interviewed. I went to check out a school in Ariel today, and I liked it. I don't know yet how much I liked it, and I have couldn't really tell, but there were only 3 of us, and we're looking at 10 positions... I have 3 more Sayarot, so I'll be keeping you posted!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
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