Model unity at my friend's house

A week ago on Shabbos, I was at my friend's in the late afternoon. We sat and shmoozed and then gathered to eat. One by one some more girls came. The interesting thing is that we're many different individuals gathered together.
Modern Orthodox and Bais Yaakov, one baal teshuvah and one secular girl,
and American and Persian

We chatted and sang zemiros and had a beautiful Shabbos

Of course, this would probably be harder on a global scale, but still it's a good example.

In general, when we communicate, look at the whole story, and try to see the spark in each of us, we can be strong.

Lets gather and pray to Hashem, may we be redeemed soon and peacefully.

My friends chevra

Recently, I was in Kew Gardens Hills and stayed with a couple I know. On Shabbos, they introduced me to their friends, who are an eclectic group of different individuals. BH, they were very sweet, and I blended in with the group. We hung out all day and shmoozed. I guess if I ever decide to move there, I have a connection already, BH.
Los Angeles, where I am, is cool too. Love giving people a tour. I even gave myself a tour a long while ago to places I wanted to have deeper look at, for example, in the area called beverly wood, among other places

Well anyhoo, have a good week

Rikud - dance

Now that's good wedding dancing entertainment in this vid below


HERE, ENJOY

Ahh the imagination

Some time ago, a couple of friends and I made up a story involving a band. It was our band. That's what you have when you mix your enjoyment of songs and enjoyment of stories together.

We would come up with song titles and lyrics for different songs and make an album. It was interesting. - It was really like a poetry album because it didn't have a CD. - Later though, one of them moved away, and the band disembled.

However, we're now back together again via Facebook and making songs again. Our band has reunited. - Our song writing might be less often than before, since we are all busy. But we'll do it when we can.

Lesson from ECE

'
One really good lesson that I learned while taking early childhood education is active listening. This is very important for both teachers and parents.

Have you ever experienced a child repeating something over and over until you answered them? Or in another situation, a child might be feeling sad, but feels better when someone acknowledges how they feel. For example, the preschool teacher could say, 'I understand, it's hard for you to be away from your mom.'


It also works for adults, but in a different way. For example, I was talking to a friend and they were going through a hard time and told me about what happened and how they felt. I looked at the message they emailed me and acknoweledge point by point what they said. For example, 'I agree, it can be very hard when.....'
They wrote back to me saying that I was right on, and then they jokingly said, "It's like your in my head."
The important thing here is that eventhough they still felt kind of down, they felt a little better because of the support from a friend. It doesn't always have to be with words though. sometimes, it could be just listening to them and giving a hug.

-

reunion

Yesterday on Sunday, I met someone that I haven't seen since 8th grade 12 years ago. Then again I might have seen them a few years ago at a classmate's wedding. But anyway, it's amazing to finally see someone again after so long and catch up on what's happening. I asked her if she has kept in touch with the others and where they are living now, and she gave me an update.

Later, I mentioned to someone else, that we should have a class reunion. I long to see them again and find out what they are doing now etc. Only problem is everyone is so busy, and it would probably be hard for some who are far to come. Oh well. Over the years, I have seen a few here and there. I guess that's enough.

Our Adventure

I've decided to change my idea and write something else. It's a group story that I'll start and you guys will continue it in the comments section.


Here we go

Our Adventure

We all met in NY and spent a couple of days there going to different places and hanging out. Then we went to the airport and waited to board the plane. Finally, we got on the plane and made ourselves comfortable. Then the captain told us where we're going and we froze. "What?!" someone in the group said "That's not where we want to go!"

"We're on the wrong plane!" Someone else said.

We tried to get off, but the flight attendent wouldn't let us. It was too late. We were stuck and going to....

This past weekend

I usually stay home for shabbos. But this time one of my friends got me to go with them to this family they know. At first I thought I don't know them but later I found that I do. It's funny bumping into people you haven't seen in a long time. My friend was surprised and had that 'you know them?' look. I remember my brother was friends with one of their sons when they were on my block a long while ago. Now the family lives somewhere else and their sons are on the east coast. But they still have a little daughter at home.

Anyway, my shabbos there was excellent.

Those special occasions

On thursday evening, I went to my best friend's wedding and it was absolutely amazing. Plus, it's more fun when it's your best friend than someone you haven't seen since junior high because you know more people and so it's more enjoyable. Anyway, it was really nice. One of the things that was very interesting was this group of young lubavitch gymnists that the chasan knows and who perform at weddings. And man are they limber, doing splits and backward summersults on a small dance floor among other things. The dancing is always the funnest though. While walking to the car, I asked one of my friends what she thought and she said to ask her when she's not so exhausted. Lol.

On shabbos, I came over to their home in the afternoon and eventhough there was a bunch of people then, the place was packed during shalos seudos. And so we just had a buffet and sat or stood where ever. Overall, it was a very nice weekend.

Good news

One of my friends recently got engaged! I went to her vort last week and it was really nice. What I was really curious to know was, what does he look like. Also, what's interesting is that her sister got married just recently in April. Her sister and brother in law are so alike both in personality and looks. Back to the kallah. She met him through a friend who knew about him and decided to set them up. He's not from here though but from Australia and so the wedding will be here and later they'll move to there. I'm so excited for her!

Well last week on wednesday, my friend R. and I finally did something before she goes back to school. I'm planning on working though and maybe continue with school later.

On shabbos, I saw other friends and we sat around in the living room with the fan on. Boy, it was hot outside. At first we were just sitting and talking and then we decided to go visit someone. We split up, two or three going to the old age home and three of us going to visit someone else. We spent some time with this disabled girl that we know. She is so sweet and her younger brother and sister are really cute too. Then we came back and sat around again. The others, who went to the old age home, came back as well. Then a couple more girls came. I love lounging around and relaxing with friends. It's so simple, yet so enjoyable. Then we had shalosh suedos which was still going after shabbos ended.

This week, I'm going to the east coast, IY'H. And so I won't be blogging for awhile.
Have a good week everyone.

My Weekend

On sunday, I went to Venis beach with my friend and her friends. Actually, first we had lunch, then we headed for the beach. We walked along the boardwalk and my friend kept looking at the jewlery that was on different tables. There were some interesting people there, some odd and some normal looking. Then we came to a gathering and I was wondering what people were looking at. After trying to figure out what's going on, I noticed that there was a man doing a funny performance for money. That explains it. Then I lost my friend and looked around and wondered how I would find her. Fortunatly, she's the kind of person who yells your name when she can't find you. I followed her voice, found her, and we continued walking. The other two girls were somewhere else.

Venis beach prides itself on freedom of expression. On one area of the boardwalk, there were a bunch of dry erase boards with liberal messages galore, next to the tables where people were selling things. And passerby's are reading this stuff and some probrably believe it too. And I'm not talking about the usual issues, this stuff talks about conspiracies and stuff. There was also a Jews for J table which at first looked like a pro Israel table, but after I looked at what the piece of the paper handed to me said, I figured out what it was and put the flyer in a trash can.

After walking a little more, my friend bought a soda and I bought a hershey bar. Afterwards, she was looking at Jewlerly again and when she was done, I suggested we go look at the people roller skating. We walked towards that area which looks like a round skating/dance floor and after standing for a few minutes, we sat down on the grass and enjoyed the show. Man, those skaters can really dance. After that, we decided to find where the other girls are, and after cell phoning them and agreeing where to meet, we found them and walked back to the car.