So remember in my last post how I said that the events in the world seem like the whole apocalypse thing? Well lo and behold, last night Fox news (I know, eww for Fox) did a segment on churches and religious groups that believe we are entering the apocalypse and that the world really is ending...seriously, I think this is all a little chicken little-ish, but it is interesting to look at what Revelations (not Jewish) says about the end of the world and compare it to the current events..still Revelations is so vague, that probably every era could make an argumet for the end of the world. I say...bring it on :)
Okay- new topic... as most of you know, I am very passionate about education, especially for low- income children. Well recently there was a new report published about public v. private schools. Now, I care so much about this because conservatives generally think the answer to helping poor kids is to offer them vouchers for private schools..I hate this idea because it takes money from the public schools and there are not enough spots in private schools for these kids and private schools can kick the kids out and keep the money...the child goes back to the public school without funds...Now, the new report shows that public schools are performing as well and often better than private schools with the exception of 8th grade reading...so all the hooplah about how wonderful private schools are, is just that..hooplah...
I have a lot more to say about that, but first, the point of this is that a friend of mine who keeps her own blog wrote about this and disparaged public schools for the requirements they hold for teachers...she mentioned that she does not want to take "loserish education classes" just to teach in public schools...she has a masters in the subject she taught in private school and feels that this is enough and that the public schools should respect her "degree, high grades, and good lesson plans". As much as I love my friend (MUAH)...I think this is part of the problem with the public v. private school argument...understanding a subject is not the same as being able to teach it...we have all heard the old adage that "those who can't do, teach"...this is why teachers get paid Jack...b/c everyone thinks that what we do is easy...and that anyone can do it...well let me tell you...teaching is also about understanding child development, learning styles, differentiation, and a bit of social work...only about half of teaching is really about the subjects....understanding children , what they bring and what they need and how you can create the optimal environoment for each of the 30 kids in your class is what the "loserish education classes" are really about..I am proud that public schools, with all of their other issues, at least require something of their teachers...and I am proud to have taken those loserish education classes and I too have a degree in the subject I taught, high grades and great lesson plans...
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Moving Forward
So we had a pretty nice weekend visiting some friends at their lakehouse ( I know sounds a bit snotty)...still the bad news keeps rolling in ... Ima's second tumor was cancerous...although we are still optimistic, more cancer is never good... The last biopsy is Thursday, so everyone cross your fingers
We have decided to continue trying to move forward with the gestational carrier/baby issues. I am going to try to get an appointment with the doctor for when Robin is here so we can discuss options and next steps...Even though I feel discouraged, I know that if I really want this I can't give up. And Yes, I do still really want this.
As for the world- that doesn't help my discouraged outlook...sometimes when I turn on the news I feel like I am looking at a movie showing the apocalypse...fire raging across California, tsunamis and flooding in the east, war in the middle east...Ahhhhh! what is happening to our world?
Okay, enough said for a Monday morning...hope everyone had a great weekend and has an even better week :)
We have decided to continue trying to move forward with the gestational carrier/baby issues. I am going to try to get an appointment with the doctor for when Robin is here so we can discuss options and next steps...Even though I feel discouraged, I know that if I really want this I can't give up. And Yes, I do still really want this.
As for the world- that doesn't help my discouraged outlook...sometimes when I turn on the news I feel like I am looking at a movie showing the apocalypse...fire raging across California, tsunamis and flooding in the east, war in the middle east...Ahhhhh! what is happening to our world?
Okay, enough said for a Monday morning...hope everyone had a great weekend and has an even better week :)
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Avoiding and Pondering
So I realize that the last posting was really just an attempt to avoid talking about what I really want to say...Lately I have been incredibly discouraged with life.
Now, I have real issues about feeling sorry for myself, but I feel that if there really is a G-d, s/he must hate me. Just the fact that I am not sure G-d exists is a statement about my current disposition, as a modern-conservadox Jew who has been relatively observant for the last 9 years, it downright scares me that I have begun to think it is some sort of "hoax" (no offense meant to those who are believers)...I guess it is more generally a coping mechanism and the need to control SOMETHING in my life
The problem is, I don't really think the world is balanced..I mentioned to a friend that the good things in my life haven't really balanced out all the bad...then I began to ponder if this is really true because I have learned many things, even from the bad stuff...I learned that there are people in the world who will sacrifice a part of themselves in order to help someone else, that miracles can and do happen, that sometimes, the bad stuff has to happen to make room for the good stuff..that crisis may bring you closer to those who don't believe in emotion and that no matter what, I will get through it.
Still, the loss of - loved ones, my health, the ability to carry a baby, and maybe now even my faith- just seem to be unfair and saddening...in the end, that is how I feel, a little angry, a bit bitter, pretty anxious, but mostly, tired...tired of analyzing, tired of fighting, tired of crying, just tired...I promise all of my posts will not be so depressing...I do have la forza e spera- but sometimes it just helps to get it out
Now, I have real issues about feeling sorry for myself, but I feel that if there really is a G-d, s/he must hate me. Just the fact that I am not sure G-d exists is a statement about my current disposition, as a modern-conservadox Jew who has been relatively observant for the last 9 years, it downright scares me that I have begun to think it is some sort of "hoax" (no offense meant to those who are believers)...I guess it is more generally a coping mechanism and the need to control SOMETHING in my life
The problem is, I don't really think the world is balanced..I mentioned to a friend that the good things in my life haven't really balanced out all the bad...then I began to ponder if this is really true because I have learned many things, even from the bad stuff...I learned that there are people in the world who will sacrifice a part of themselves in order to help someone else, that miracles can and do happen, that sometimes, the bad stuff has to happen to make room for the good stuff..that crisis may bring you closer to those who don't believe in emotion and that no matter what, I will get through it.
Still, the loss of - loved ones, my health, the ability to carry a baby, and maybe now even my faith- just seem to be unfair and saddening...in the end, that is how I feel, a little angry, a bit bitter, pretty anxious, but mostly, tired...tired of analyzing, tired of fighting, tired of crying, just tired...I promise all of my posts will not be so depressing...I do have la forza e spera- but sometimes it just helps to get it out
Funny Jewish Jokes
Hey - My sister in law e-mailed this to me and it did make me laugh...one of the goals of the blog..so I thought I'd share:
1. The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact that "Won Ton" spelled backward is "Not Now."
2. There is a big controversy on the Jewish view of when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the fetus is not considered viable until it graduates from medical school.
3. Q: Why don't Jewish mothers drink? A: Alcohol interferes with their suffering.
4. Q: Have you seen the newest Jewish-American-Princess horror movie? A: It's called "Debbie Does Dishes."
5. Q: Why do Jewish mothers make great parole officers? A: They never let anyone finish a sentence.
6. Q: What's a Jewish American Princess's favorite position? A: Facing Bloomingdale's.
7. When the doctor called Mrs. Liebenbaum to tell her that her cheque came back, she replied, "So did my arthritis."
8. A man called his mother in Florida, "Mom, how are you?" "Not too good, " said the mother. "I've been very weak." The son said, "Why are you so weak?" She said, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 days." The son said, "That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?" The mother answered, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call."
9. A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play. She asks, "What part is it? The boy says, "I play the part of the Jewish husband." The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part."
10. Q: Where does a Jewish husband hide money from his wife? A: Under the vacuum cleaner 11. Q: How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb? A: (Sigh) "Don't bother. I'll sit in the dark. I don't want to be a nuisance to anybody."
12. Short summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat.
13. Did you hear about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said "Lady I haven't eaten in three days." "Force yourself," she replied.
14. Q: What's the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother? A: Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.
15. Jewish telegram: "Begin worrying. Details to follow."
16. Q: Why are Jewish Men circumcised? A: Because Jewish women don't like anything that isn't 20% off
1. The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact that "Won Ton" spelled backward is "Not Now."
2. There is a big controversy on the Jewish view of when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the fetus is not considered viable until it graduates from medical school.
3. Q: Why don't Jewish mothers drink? A: Alcohol interferes with their suffering.
4. Q: Have you seen the newest Jewish-American-Princess horror movie? A: It's called "Debbie Does Dishes."
5. Q: Why do Jewish mothers make great parole officers? A: They never let anyone finish a sentence.
6. Q: What's a Jewish American Princess's favorite position? A: Facing Bloomingdale's.
7. When the doctor called Mrs. Liebenbaum to tell her that her cheque came back, she replied, "So did my arthritis."
8. A man called his mother in Florida, "Mom, how are you?" "Not too good, " said the mother. "I've been very weak." The son said, "Why are you so weak?" She said, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 days." The son said, "That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?" The mother answered, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call."
9. A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play. She asks, "What part is it? The boy says, "I play the part of the Jewish husband." The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part."
10. Q: Where does a Jewish husband hide money from his wife? A: Under the vacuum cleaner 11. Q: How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb? A: (Sigh) "Don't bother. I'll sit in the dark. I don't want to be a nuisance to anybody."
12. Short summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat.
13. Did you hear about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said "Lady I haven't eaten in three days." "Force yourself," she replied.
14. Q: What's the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother? A: Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.
15. Jewish telegram: "Begin worrying. Details to follow."
16. Q: Why are Jewish Men circumcised? A: Because Jewish women don't like anything that isn't 20% off
Genesis
Hi everyone- well thanks to Nicole, I now have a blog..for those who are wondering "la forza e spera" means strength and hope..two things that have become critical to my life these days. I hope to use this blog to sometimes vent, sometimes laugh, and ponder that which is my life. please feel free to post and tell me how your life is going..
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