So, the basement is close to being done. it's amazing how it transforms, like one of those shows where they convert wasted space.
video below (for a limited time) for the benefit of my mom to see - thanks mom ;)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
adventures in renovation - part 1
it's an interesting time. suddenly i find myself engaged in not 1 but 2 renovation projects at the same time.
1st up - the long awaited 4th bedroom. its a room converted from 1/2 of the old huge mess of a laundry room we had. we dumped a ton of stuff (demsky commented that it looked like the basement threw up) and now can split the room in 2. half as a guest bedroom, 1/2 as a laundry room. it's pretty cool.
day 1 and 2 went fine. cleaned out, new doors, framing, the beginning works. its good to be back with dwight griffith and his crew again. the only hitch was the random old oil lines in some bizzare location that necessitated their being clipped which now has the room smelling of oil.
the girls loved running through the open framed walls claiming they can walk through walls.
we asked them to hold onto the washer / dryer hook up as long as possible. of course with a home reno in swing "a" decided it was time to learn how to sleep thru the night in underwear and not pull ups (finally). but that of course necessiates several washes of pee soaked underwear, pads, and pajamas.
so, as we conclude one of our last loads of laundry tonight with the machines sort of sitting in the middle of the new room, as i leave for the night i spot water under the washer. seriously. jen even called it - she didn't think the washer would survive the move 3 feet to the corner. and lo and behold there is soapy water on the floor.
unsure of the culprit yet - maybe the washer, maybe the hose, maybe the old sink, but something gave out.
and even weirder, as i cleaned up, i found a snake, yes a snake, in a watering can in the basement.
job #2 starts monday - at BCAC we are actually seriously finally starting the build upon a dream project. the whole 1st floor lobby and conference room (you havent been by yet? what are you waiting for - come see the office) will be stripped and redone. new furniture for the offices, away with the pinks, new HVAC units, new modular furniture. the office may actually look like an office.
i have another great team doing this one, but i expect the usual unforseen goblins of renovations to pop up. stay tuned.
1st up - the long awaited 4th bedroom. its a room converted from 1/2 of the old huge mess of a laundry room we had. we dumped a ton of stuff (demsky commented that it looked like the basement threw up) and now can split the room in 2. half as a guest bedroom, 1/2 as a laundry room. it's pretty cool.
day 1 and 2 went fine. cleaned out, new doors, framing, the beginning works. its good to be back with dwight griffith and his crew again. the only hitch was the random old oil lines in some bizzare location that necessitated their being clipped which now has the room smelling of oil.
the girls loved running through the open framed walls claiming they can walk through walls.
we asked them to hold onto the washer / dryer hook up as long as possible. of course with a home reno in swing "a" decided it was time to learn how to sleep thru the night in underwear and not pull ups (finally). but that of course necessiates several washes of pee soaked underwear, pads, and pajamas.
so, as we conclude one of our last loads of laundry tonight with the machines sort of sitting in the middle of the new room, as i leave for the night i spot water under the washer. seriously. jen even called it - she didn't think the washer would survive the move 3 feet to the corner. and lo and behold there is soapy water on the floor.
unsure of the culprit yet - maybe the washer, maybe the hose, maybe the old sink, but something gave out.
and even weirder, as i cleaned up, i found a snake, yes a snake, in a watering can in the basement.
job #2 starts monday - at BCAC we are actually seriously finally starting the build upon a dream project. the whole 1st floor lobby and conference room (you havent been by yet? what are you waiting for - come see the office) will be stripped and redone. new furniture for the offices, away with the pinks, new HVAC units, new modular furniture. the office may actually look like an office.
i have another great team doing this one, but i expect the usual unforseen goblins of renovations to pop up. stay tuned.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Top 2008 - First Draft
The year end always causes everyone to review their best lists of the year. I'm no exception. Per my ipod's play count, here are the most played songs / albums from 2008. Obviously the newer stuff is lower on the list, and i'm clearly biased towards REM, but it looks like a great year in music. Some details about each track to follow in the coming days.
1. Supernatural Superserious / Accelerate - R.E.M.
2. A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
3. 27 Jennifers - Mike Doughty
4. Stop Drop and Roll - Foxboro Hottubs
5. Cath... - Death Cab For Cutie
6. Vida La Vida - Coldplay
7. Sequestered In Memphis - The Hold Steady
8. Perfect Music - Poi Dog
9. Dancing Choose - TV On The Radio
10. The Shock of the Lightening - Oasis
11. No Hiding Place - Elvis Costello
12. Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
13. Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur - Sigur Ros
14. Vampires - Thievery Corporation
15. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance - Black Kids
16. Never Miss A Beat - The Kaiser Chiefs
17. California Soul - Marlena Shaw / Verve Remixed 4
18. Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti & Spearhead
19. New Soul - Yael Naim
20. The Only One - The Cure
21. Forever - The Explorers Club
22. Everything Is Borrowed - The Streets
23. It's a Long Way to the Top - Lucinda Williams
Honorable Mentions -
Band of Horses, David Cook, TMBG, Mission of Burma, Plain White T's
1. Supernatural Superserious / Accelerate - R.E.M.
2. A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
3. 27 Jennifers - Mike Doughty
4. Stop Drop and Roll - Foxboro Hottubs
5. Cath... - Death Cab For Cutie
6. Vida La Vida - Coldplay
7. Sequestered In Memphis - The Hold Steady
8. Perfect Music - Poi Dog
9. Dancing Choose - TV On The Radio
10. The Shock of the Lightening - Oasis
11. No Hiding Place - Elvis Costello
12. Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
13. Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur - Sigur Ros
14. Vampires - Thievery Corporation
15. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance - Black Kids
16. Never Miss A Beat - The Kaiser Chiefs
17. California Soul - Marlena Shaw / Verve Remixed 4
18. Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti & Spearhead
19. New Soul - Yael Naim
20. The Only One - The Cure
21. Forever - The Explorers Club
22. Everything Is Borrowed - The Streets
23. It's a Long Way to the Top - Lucinda Williams
Honorable Mentions -
Band of Horses, David Cook, TMBG, Mission of Burma, Plain White T's
Friday, December 12, 2008
Is it trite to blog about yad v'shem?
After visiting Beit Lyn, Jerusalem's cac, I unexpectedly went over to yad vshem. Its completely different than 22 yrs ago. I was one of the first people in (10am Friday is like 10am Saturday in the states).
Struck by the size, scope and silence of yad vshem, I found myself lost in thought. Perhaps this becomes the middle of a unexpected and unanticipated Jewish journey which occured this last week. After seeing Jewish peoplehood at its finest in Ashkelon, I now bear witness to humanity at its worst and our people's ability to rise up and survive (which ultimately led to what I experienced in Ashkelon).
The eeire beauty and serenity over yad vshem this morning, compelled me to sit in warsaw ghetto square to at least compose my thoughts and keep them for myself for future reading.
So, maybe its a bit trite to sit and tap out thoughts, but how else iin today's world.
Holocaust is so ingrained (and maybe taken for granted) in my world, but it recharges one self seeing other tourists take in the scope of this site.
Much has changed, but quiet strength remains. Plazas and squares dedicated to events in the holocaust, a synagogue that contains the last bits of destroyed jewish populations throughout europe - gorgeous arks, torah covers, menorahs all displayed with renewed purpose. A hall of remembrance for the 1.5 million children killed with just darkened mirrored images of candles and names and ages read aloud. Massive sculptures depicting despair and triumph. All perched atop a breathtaking hillside view.
Yes - Jewish peoplehood is alive and well. After having left it professionally, its good to be back personally.
Ps - perhaps the lesson of world jewry's revival in israel may be witnessed by the very eastern european looking mother pushing a very ethiopian looking baby in a stroller at yad vshem. Proof we are one jewish people afterall
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Struck by the size, scope and silence of yad vshem, I found myself lost in thought. Perhaps this becomes the middle of a unexpected and unanticipated Jewish journey which occured this last week. After seeing Jewish peoplehood at its finest in Ashkelon, I now bear witness to humanity at its worst and our people's ability to rise up and survive (which ultimately led to what I experienced in Ashkelon).
The eeire beauty and serenity over yad vshem this morning, compelled me to sit in warsaw ghetto square to at least compose my thoughts and keep them for myself for future reading.
So, maybe its a bit trite to sit and tap out thoughts, but how else iin today's world.
Holocaust is so ingrained (and maybe taken for granted) in my world, but it recharges one self seeing other tourists take in the scope of this site.
Much has changed, but quiet strength remains. Plazas and squares dedicated to events in the holocaust, a synagogue that contains the last bits of destroyed jewish populations throughout europe - gorgeous arks, torah covers, menorahs all displayed with renewed purpose. A hall of remembrance for the 1.5 million children killed with just darkened mirrored images of candles and names and ages read aloud. Massive sculptures depicting despair and triumph. All perched atop a breathtaking hillside view.
Yes - Jewish peoplehood is alive and well. After having left it professionally, its good to be back personally.
Ps - perhaps the lesson of world jewry's revival in israel may be witnessed by the very eastern european looking mother pushing a very ethiopian looking baby in a stroller at yad vshem. Proof we are one jewish people afterall
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
My moment
I just left a pre-school where I got to join 30 four year olds who sang Hatikvah - nothing has quite hit me about being here in a Jewish homeland with "old" israelis as well as new israeli olim from ethiopia, russia, eastern europe, and even a kid from chicago than getting to experience and participate in such a moment.
And then we ate again.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Kindergarten in Ashkelon
Shal chevit kindergartners always share the best story and food. Had sufiganot (donuts) for chanukah. PACT once again provides the program enhancement iin the classroom - 3 olim required literacy and language enhancement taught by a pact instructor, but the whole class benefits because a 4th student - non ethiopian israeli olim - needed it as well and is able to improve her language and literacy due to pact's presence.
Its wonderful to see the partnership and ancillary benefits derived from having a pact partnership with a community.
Being in shal chevit's class was just like being in my own twins' class. Parental involvement was key - today the father of one of the boys was invited to cut the dabbah (bread) and share with the class. He was given the honor (and of course, like our kindergarteners, his little boy was equally embarrassed and clingy in his presence). The father, a proud olim, was very happy to be a part of the activity
Nissim, one of the boys, gave me some art to take home, which will hang proudly in my office next to my kids' art.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Its wonderful to see the partnership and ancillary benefits derived from having a pact partnership with a community.
Being in shal chevit's class was just like being in my own twins' class. Parental involvement was key - today the father of one of the boys was invited to cut the dabbah (bread) and share with the class. He was given the honor (and of course, like our kindergarteners, his little boy was equally embarrassed and clingy in his presence). The father, a proud olim, was very happy to be a part of the activity
Nissim, one of the boys, gave me some art to take home, which will hang proudly in my office next to my kids' art.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Experiences between parents: Ethiopian Olim observations
Sitting in a riveting meeting in Netanya today. An Ethiopian-Jewish olim is sharing with us his experience (his peers) as a parent going thru absorption and PACT.
Most telling aspect is his point to preserve identity as to who they are as Ethiopians.
Most interesting, however, are the same concerns and strategies that we all use in social service delivery.
We shared ideas, saw more adorable children and their parents participating in programs all made possible or augmented by PACT.
The greatest moment of the day came during our reflections at the end of the day. Much of what we were seeing, the ethiopian-jewish experience, shared challenges all clicked. Steve Fink, my rabbi and my friend, summed it all up for our crowd of jewish and non jewish delegates as to why this was all done - because its about Jews helping other Jews. No matter where they live, what color their skin, their level of need, that's what we do, that's what JDC does, and that's why $30mm is raised by Baltimore Jews annually to support world Jewry. And although this isn't a "jewish" mission per se, the reason as to why such a life saving misson was undertaken became evident and then the group understood how and why this would work. I wish we had recorded it. All were extremely moved.
Tomorrow we visit olim in their homes inashkelon.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Most telling aspect is his point to preserve identity as to who they are as Ethiopians.
Most interesting, however, are the same concerns and strategies that we all use in social service delivery.
We shared ideas, saw more adorable children and their parents participating in programs all made possible or augmented by PACT.
The greatest moment of the day came during our reflections at the end of the day. Much of what we were seeing, the ethiopian-jewish experience, shared challenges all clicked. Steve Fink, my rabbi and my friend, summed it all up for our crowd of jewish and non jewish delegates as to why this was all done - because its about Jews helping other Jews. No matter where they live, what color their skin, their level of need, that's what we do, that's what JDC does, and that's why $30mm is raised by Baltimore Jews annually to support world Jewry. And although this isn't a "jewish" mission per se, the reason as to why such a life saving misson was undertaken became evident and then the group understood how and why this would work. I wish we had recorded it. All were extremely moved.
Tomorrow we visit olim in their homes inashkelon.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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