"Healthy Treats?"

As a savta (granny,) I don't think it's a good idea to be as strict about food as I was with my own kids. I was "notorious" or "admirable," depending on your opinion of things. When my kids requested "mastik," chewing gum, I replied:

"So you want to chew, take this," and I gave them green peppers, which we called "green mastik."

I made up a hot drink with carob powder and called it hot chocolate. My kids couldn't figure out why their chocolate didn't taste like anyone else's.

But as a grandmother, I'm not the boss. My grandkids get all sorts of real nosherei from the other grandmother and their father. They wouldn't fall for the green pepper scam.

They're used to being taken to the local grocery, a small supermarket, everyday after pre-school. Yesterday when I took them, I got them to choose a banana yogurt drink. I can't stand those things, but it was the perfect treat. It has some nutrients and it's not all that tasty, so they didn't finish drinking it.

Sometimes I've managed to buy them dried fruit, also a better snack.

Straight From the Market-- HH #166

The latest Havel Havelim has posts from a great variety of blogs, some of which I've never read before. I'll have to really go throught it carefully. It's also illustrated with the most adorable pictures. I guess the HH hostess had help from the younger generation.

And I'll just take this jblogging opportunity to remind you that the next edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival is rapidly approaching. This little Havel Havelim logo-- or is it just a one-time appearance--should inspire you to blog something about kosher food.

KCC is a lot more than "just recipes." Any post you write or see concerning any aspect of kosher food, whether, Jewish Law, customs, anecdotes, menus, restaurants, cookbooks and yes, recipes, of course, fits the bill.

It's easy to send your post via the carnival submission form. I can be reached at shilohmuse at yahoo dot com
Thanks

Shavua Tov--Have a Wonderful Week

Yenta and Megillah

I don't think there's really any similarity between the two, but I do want to finish blogging before the virus check kicks in. It slows everything down and it's the perfect way to discipline myself and reduce computer time.

#1 What could be more important than starting new families, finding spouses for those who want to marry? Sometimes the only thing to do is to pray, and there are groups organizing to pray for Jewish matches. The entire 150 chapter T'hillim, Psalms, are divided among 40 people who say their share on the first day of the Jewish Month mentioning all the names in their list. If you want more information look here.

#2 Check out the latest Gantseh Megillah. There is a great variety of articles. I appreciate that Michael includes mine, even though he very frequently does not agree with what I've written.

I Don't Know What It Was

Friday night, Erev Shabbat, we ate at Yemenite neighbors. They serve a lot of greens and use all sorts of herbs and spices.

I don't know what it was with the fish, she didn't make the very "hot" fish in sauce she had served us before, but we all had to blow our noses afterwards. It was "cleansing."

That Beeper

Like many of our neighbors, we have an "emergency beeper." During the Barak reign of terror, that Hell of a year when Ehud Barak was Israel's Prime Minister and Arab terrorists very frequently attacked innocent Israeli citizens, many communities like ours got beepers to send out quick announcements about security issues. Ours is by the dining room table.

Thank G-d, by the time the system was set up, Barak was out of office and things calmed down. Now the announcements are reminders to attend events, whether lectures, parties or funerals. Just before it began to ring, and I went into a panic:

"Who could have died?"

Nobody died, Thank G-d.

What's So Terrible About Looking One's Age?

I'd rather be youthful, in a young at heart way, than botoxed, tucked and stitched.



Too many people of my age and even younger look peculiar with unhighlighted colored hair, too dark for their skin and not matching their eyebrows. Others look like old babydolls left out in the sun, stiff puffed out cheeks. I'd rather be real.

She was once so pretty. That's Pricilla Presley, Elvis's wife, if you can't recognize her.

The Potato Temptation

A few years ago, a friend sent me a diet book, one of those "beware of carbohydrate" ones.

I read through it but never really tried their diet. It was when I was still a vegetarian, making a low carb diet extremely difficult.

One thing that surprised me was their ranking of various carbohydrate foods. Pasta rated much safer than potatoes. I don't remember exactly why and can't find the book, but recently I have discovered that potatoes can be very "dangerous." When I make myself a vegetable omelet sans potatoes, just onion and squash, I feel satisfied. But when I add a potato to the vegetables, I find myself uncontrollably starving for more potatoes and then I cook up a whole bunch, eating and eating until the craving is satisfied.

And if you had been wondering...

I wrote that I had a parent-teachers meeting yesterday. Well, I dressed up very properly and got to Beit El relatively quickly. I was well-timed to catch a bus and there are more frequent rides after 3 than my usual after 12 to Beit El. So really, it wasn't a stressful trip. I ended up with a half hour on the Teachers Room computer and easily blogged this.

Then I went up to the English Room to wait for the hoards of parents. My "coordinator" and I had a nice chat while we waited. Yes, we waited. Finally, some parents came in, but they were for the teacher who wasn't there. The father was someone I had known over 40 years ago, so we had a little reunion. And then I waited some more. A father-son team came in to speak to the other teacher, and I waited. After an hour and a half, I decided to search for parents. I found a neighbor, mother of one of my students. I spoke to her, even though we had just had "the talk" a few days ago. But I was desperate. How could I leave without meeting a single parent.

I'm proud to say that I didn't nosh on a single cookie. I crocheted. Be Prepared!

The parking area was full, but the English Room was ignored.

I showed up, because I consider these meetings very important. I also never heard any reactions to the letters I had sent off to the the parents of my seniors. I reported that their sons have not done the minimal required work and will not be able to finish their English requirements.

If this is how the parents participate in their sons' education, I feel sorry for the kids.

I shouldn't complain, but...

It's like a bitter tasting medicine, which takes so long to "embibe."

My computer is working in slow motion. The virus check has been running over three hours. It's a daily torture. I use the AVG free one. It is effective, but it takes so long and I guess my computer isn't as young as it used to be; as if I am.

I have things to do, but I don't have the patience to do them while the scan is scanning.

Thanks for listening. ps the spellcheck still isn't checking... at least I think it isn't. Maybe there aren't any spelling mistakes. Though, when it works it doesn't like the word "spellcheck."

Meeting The Parents

Tonight, or more exactly, this afternoon is the Parent-Teacher Meeting where I teach. It should be the best opportunity to meet with the parents of my students.

Yes, I wrote "should," because attendance is no great shakes.

In absolute honesty, I enjoy these meetings. I remember my days of going to these meetings as a parent, and I sympathize with the parents. It's not easy, not if your kids are gifted, problematic, dyslexic (used as a general term for all mild learning disabilities), any combination or all of the above. When my kids were in school I had to deal with it all, from hostile teachers and administration to explaining to fawning teachers that even a gifted student works very hard. It's disappointing to meet parents who have no idea who and what their kids really are and need.

When my kids were little, it was considered a great achievement and privilege if they got suitable "testing accommodations." We did everything to help our kids take advantage, even if it cost a lot of money. Today parents don't realize that if their son gets the right to use an electric dictionary, they must buy it immediately. Otherwise, what's the point? If a child has the right to oral testing, he must have a walkman. I stopped recording tests, since the kids never came with the necessary equipment. Actually I wish I had one with a loudspeaker which would proclaim:

"No, I'm not your dictionary!"

In recent years, the parents of the kids who need the most help don't show up, or they don't come to sit and talk to me. And davka I have professional experience counseling parents of kids with learning and study problems.

Let's see what happens today.

ps Blogger's spellcheck seems disabled; let's see if I can catch all the typos myself.

Now, How Could I Complain?

After finishing at the Neve Yaakov Pool, I gave a quick call to the school where I teach, just to check the schedule. Being that we're in "finals season" I never know when I'll be given a bissel extra "vacation."

Good thing I called. The secretary told me that I'd be starting later than usual. I quickly called a friend, with whom I'd been trying to make a lunch date, and-- we did it!

Considering how Bush's visit has paralysed Jerusalem and imprisoned innocent Israelis in their homes, we were pretty restricted as to venue. Luckily both the bus I was on and the Begin Highway, she could access, both reached Ramat Eshkol, so we met there in the shopping center.

After waiting over half an hour on line in the post office to mail my mother a birthday card, which should have had been mailed a week ago to arrive today, we went to the nearby "Nina's Bagel Cafe`."


I ordered a "tuna bagel." It was OK for ns20; though it wasn't a "real bagel," the boiled then baked variety. But there was salad and it was big and, I'll repeat, only twenty shekels. Yes, I also gave a tip. Nu, it didn't break the bank.



Then we walked around a bit, and I was tempted by this simple lounge, but it's certainly not very portable, considering that I was wheeling my pool bag plus and was on my way to work.



Trying to catch the bus was almost dangerous, since that truck parked in front of the bus stop on the sidewalk. I had to stand on the busy road to see the bus and hail it.



Yes, B"H, I'm fine.

Choosing Clothes

It's always so confusing and tricky to choose the right clothes for the weather during this "transition" season. It can be freezing cold in the morning, boiling at noon and cold again in the late afternoon. Shiloh, like Jerusalem, has little humidity. Humidity stabilizes the temperature. The water in the air is like insulation. We don't have it, making for extreme temperature differentials at various times of the day.

Now, I have to choose what to wear. I don't want to be too cold or too hot.

Toodaloo...

The Cooking Has Begun

I started putting together the May edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival. It will be #30.

Hosts for June, July and August are already lined up. So, if you're interested in hosting one, please get your dibs in for September or later.

Of course, it's never "too late" to send a link to be included, since if you miss one, there's always another edition the following month.

KCC is a lot more than "just recipes." Any post you write or see concerning any aspect of kosher food, whether, Jewish Law, customs, anecdotes, menus, restaurants, cookbooks and yes, recipes, of course fits the bill.

It's easy to send your post via the carnival submission form. I can be reached at shilohmuse at yahoo dot com

Thanks

Finally, The Truth About Boiled Egg Shells, How To Get Clean Eggs

I never used to have a problem getting the shells off the boiled eggs until a few years ago. I just didn't put "things" together.

I remember learning that I had to quickly cool the eggs and shells would come off easily, but suddenly, nothing was working right. My family kept mumbling and grumbling.

Then, two things happened:
1- This year when getting the food cooked for the Passover Seder, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the eggs I had boiled at my son's place peeled easily and cleanly. How was it that I suddenly did something right?
2- I forgot to tell my husband to buy more eggs, so he went to the neighbor who has an organic egg business. They ended up having to go down and collect them, still warm.

Now, what do you think Yona--the guy with the organic egg business-- warned my husband?

"Don't boil them today. The shells won't come off.

They are too fresh. You need older eggs for boiling,

not these, at least for a good few days."

Oops! Now I understand. The shells started sticking when I began buying the fresh organic eggs. The eggs I bought in Jerusalem were from the big companies. They always keep a large stock, so they're not as fresh, not at all.

It's like those good news/bad news stories.

"The eggs aren't fresh, but don't worry. You can take the shells off easily!"

Is It "New Old Books," or "Old New Books?"

Well, I have a bunch of books, new for me, but old in actuality. My friend is "downsizing," getting rid of things, so she'll fit into a smaller home. And she invited me over to "shop." The price was right. You can't get cheaper than "nothing," so I took some of her old books, but they're new for me, and when I finish with them, I'll just pass them on, since I no longer collect books, certainly not of the "light" reading variety.

So if you're interested, and within schlepping distance, please let me know.

Bake Your Breakfast Omelet? Recipes, In General

I'm tempted to try the Crustless Quiche by Mark Bittman, a k a The Minimalist. The big question is, in what to bake it. He uses special "cups."

Now, you may have noticed that I haven't been posting recipes recently. I'll tell you a secret. I have a very minimal amount of recipes and lots and lots, an infinite amount of variations. That's the key.

I just cook what I have and what I'm in the mood for. Cooking shouldn't be all that complicated. I'm always amazed by people who think that every type of fish needs its own exclusive recipe. There are basic cooking methods, the oven, the big covered frying pan etc, spicy, savory, garlicky. Honestly, what's the big deal?

Depending on if I'm just cooking for myself, or more people, and depending on what's in the house, I "just cook." That's one of the reasons I can't give exact measurements. Eggs can be all different sizes, so sometimes two are enough and sometimes you'll need five for the same results. "Same results," rare, but who cares? Isn't every day different?

Enjoy cooking. Don't obsess.

2 Cents Oops! Shekels

A few months ago, Israel announced a new coin, a 2 shekel one. Soon after, I received one with change I had gotten. Yesterday, when I was looking for money to pay the big ns2.80 (maybe 75 cents at today's rate, I'm guessing not calculating) from Givat Asaf, the T Junction to Beit El to Beit El. I was lucky

I was lucky; the bus was late. Usually I "just miss it." The buses aren't coordinated. If I only wanted to travel by bus it would take me almost two hours to get to work, a trip of under 30 minutes, if driven door to door.

Back to the new coin, before I gave it to the driver, I took a picture. It's next to the "button-like" one shekel coin. I haven't gotten one of the new plastic twenty shekel bills yet. They don't look different from the paper ones. People say that if you leave it in your pocket and wash the clothes, the money will be fine...

If It's That Dangerous, Don't Come!!

Is there still time to disinvite US President Bush? The draconian "security measures" being demanded for his "safety" are outrageously insulting. He will be seriously, horrendously seriously, inconveniencing innocent Jerusalem citizens and those of us who travel to Jerusalem for services, shopping and personal reasons.

Streets will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians. Businesses will lose money. Is Bush going to compensate them? What about our wasted time and cancelled appointments?

Just in case you haven't seen the list of "measures," here they are:

Maximum security will be implemented from Tuesday May 13th through Friday May 16th. This will effect the daily life and traffic in Jerusalem.

Prohibited parking
Wednesday, May 14thMuseum Row, Shmuel Weiss,Rupin,Ramban,Paris Square, Agron, Hameches Square, King David, Amoni, PLumer Square,Jabotinsky, Wingate Square, Hanassi,Smolanskin,Keren Hayesod,Ben Zvi,Shazar,Binyanei Hauma (emergency exit) Thursday, May 15thMuseum Row, Shmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Paris Square, Agron, Meches Square, King David, Admoni, Plumer Square, Jabotinsky, Wingate Square, Hanassi, Smolanskin, Keren Hayesod, Israel Museum Parking lot, Kaplan (between Rothschild and Rupin), Arlozorov. Friday, May 16thAdmoni, King David, Meches Square, Agron, Paris Square, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Museum Row, Israel Museum Parking lot.Cars parking in these streets will be towed away.

Street Closures
The following streets will be closed for the 3 day visit:Keren Hayesod Intersection (Plumer Square) until Agron Intersection- Residents of the area will be allowd only upon presenting Id`s

Alternative driving routes
Begin Road, no. 9 road (Golda Meir Blvd., Yigal Yadin), Derech Hebron, Hativat Jerusalem, Haim Bar-Lev, Eshkol Blvd., Bar Ilan, Haneviim St., Jaffa St., Ben Zakai, Yehuda Hanassi, Golomb, Derech Moshe Baraam.

Important Links
The Israeli Presidnetial Conference 2008The President's WebsiteThe Israeli Police

Closed Sites
The Israel Museum:Closed on Wednesday May 14th, from 17:00 until Friday, May 16th at 11:00. Bible Lands Museum:Closed from Wednesday May 14th until Friday May 16th

Information Centers
Police: 1-700-90-20-30, will be open from May 12th from 12:00 Municipal hotline: 106, or 02-5314600

USA president's route: 14.05.08
Ben Gurion international airport : 11 amLanding at Ben Gurion international airport – reception – after the reception, flight to landing pad Givat Ram.Main driving routes:Road 1, Sacharov, Ben Zvi, Ramban, Agron, King David, Admoni. Landing pad Givat Ram – King David hotelMain driving routes: Landing pad Givat Ram, southern gate, Museums row, Shmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Paris Square, Agron, King David, Admoni. King David hotel – President's residenceMain driving routes:Admoni, King David, Plumer place, Jabotinsky, Wingate Square, Hanassi, President's residence. President's Residence – Prime Minister's residenceMain driving routes:Hanassi, Wingate Square, Balfoure, Smolanskin.Prime Minister's Residence – King David HotelMain driving routes:Smolanskin, Keren Hayessod, Plumer place, King David, Admoni.King David hotel- Binyanei HaumaMain driving routes: Admoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Ramban, Rupin, Ben Zvi, Zalman Shazar emergency gate, Binyanei Hauma. Binyanei Hauma –King David hotelMain driving routes: Binyanei Hauma emergency gate, Zalman Shazar, Ben Zvi, Rupin, Ramban, Agron, Meches, King David, Admoni.King David hotel – landing pad Givat RamMain driving routes: Admoni, King David, Meches Square, Agron, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Museum row Southern gate, landing pad.

USA president's route: 15.05.08
Givat Ram landing pad- King David HotelLanding Pad, South Gate, Museum Row, Shmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Paris Square, Agron, King David, Admoni King David- KnessetAdmoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Ramban, Rupin, Kaplan, Rothschild, KnessetKnesset- King David HotelMain driving routes:Knesset, Rothschild, Kaplan, Rupin, Agron, Hameches, King DavidKing David Hotel- Israel MuseumAdmoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Paris Square, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Israel MuseumIsrael Museum- Prime Minister's ResidentShmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Arlozorov, Hanassi, BalfourePrime Minister's Resident-King David HotelSmolanskin, Keren Hayesod, Plumer Square, King David, AdmoniKing David Hotel- Bible Lands MuseumMain driving routes:Admoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Paris Square, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Bible Lands Museum

USA president's route: 16.05.08
Bible Lands Museum-Givat Ram landing padMain driving routes:Shmuel Weiss, Museum Row, South Gate, LAnding PadDeparture time: 10:45

Now, if safety was really their priority, there wouldn't be any motorcades, nor grand announcements. Everthing would be quiet and discreet. But men don't like that sort of style.

Babysitting Day

I never thought I'd have a career, other than motherhood. I figured I'd go from there to some "advanced babysitting," either for others or my children's children. Did I figure that my daughters would work out of the home, or did I think I'd just give them breaks? I can't remember.

But anyway. Now I work part-time, and I see the grandkids once a week.

When I arrived in Ofra, I could see that the chairs, blue and white, taken out for their Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations hadn't been stored yet.

I walked to the babysitter's place.

The Arab homes I could see from my route are much larger and fancier than anything in Ofra or Shiloh or Beit El.

HH-- Plenty to Read

The latest Havel Havelim has plenty to read. Jack did a great job.

And just a reminder to send in your posts for the next Kosher Cooking Carnival. Please send them via the carnival submission form. I'll be keeping my finger in the pot by hosting the May one.

Yesterday's Sky

Early yesterday morning, before the sun could be seen, the sky was so beautiful. It was a pink I don't remember seeing before. Of course, as it was Shabbat, when it's forbidden to photograph with a camera, I had to use my mind. But I also planned on waking up at the same time today to be able to have it on "digital," not on film anymore, to post and maybe even print on paper.

Chazal, our sages, remind us that it's forbidden to plan on Shabbat for the weekdays. And I guess that's why the sky is so dull, pale grey this morning.

There are so many aspects to the beauty of Shabbat, besides the spiritual and the culinary. The sunrises and sunsets are always most stunning when we must use our minds rather than the camera...

Shavua Tov u'Mevorach
May You Have A Good and Blessed Week!

No Time...

No time
lots to do before Shabbat
I was in Jerusalem today. Click this and you'll find out where.

Shabbat Shalom!

Not Quite "Strawberry Fields"

Yesterday, when I waiting for my neighbors to give us a ride almost all the way to my cousin's, I took a look at the strawberry patch and noticed a couple of small ones. They're probably gone by now, eaten by the insects and animals.

Wonderful Time

We just got back a short time ago from my cousin's. That's where we go every year for Yom HaAtzma'ut. It's fun seeing our kids and grandchildren all playing together. OK, "30 somethings" doing play like pre-schoolers, but they're all good friends and that's what counts.

I can understand how our grandmother just "sat and watched" us when we were little. She didn't interfere, just got her joy from seeing the interaction.

Blogging 60

Yid with Lid just put together a special Yom Ha'atzmaut blog carnival. There are some great posts there so take a look.

Chag Sameach! Happy 60!

Here are a few pictures from the celebrations of Israel's 60th Independence Day.









There's more here. And G-d willing, I'll post more later!

At The Cemetery

This morning I was at the Shiloh Cemetery when the sirens went off at 11.

Every year, more and more people. Some of the bereaved families managed to get to the moetza's (regional council's) ceremony at Waadi Charamiya and then to ours in Shiloh. It's only a few minutes' drive.

Many people participated, parents, siblings, friends and there were grandmothers in attendance. I imagine the grandmothers' pain as multiplied by feeling the pain of their children, the bereaved parents and then their own pain as bereaved grandparents.

May G-d give us all the strength we need.

Some People Can Never Forget

Officially, there's one day a year to remember those killed in Israel's wars and by Arab terrorists, but the truth is that many people are haunted by the memories of the dead every second of the day.

Last night we had a very, very moving ceremony in Shiloh. Unfortunately, our community is no stranger to the pain of loss. Many are from families which have relatives who were killed during from as early as the War of Independence and more recently from Arab terrorism.

The large dining room of Yeshivat Hesder Shiloh was totally packed with residents of all ages.

The program was so complete and moving that we all left the building under its influence. I've written so much about Shiloh's victims of Arab terrorism that I just can't write specifics right now.

Nothing Like Old Friends

My traveling, or should I be honest and call it waiting or time-wasting, to and from work is getting me down. It saps my energy, patience and enthusiasm.

Today as I approached the bus/waiting stop all I could see were lots of others waiting. And we waited and waited. Very few rides and none to my area at all.

Finally a car approached, barely slowed down and signalled north. I jumped into the street to catch their attention. Even if there wouldn't be room for me, at least I'd be closer to being first.

All of a sudden, the woman in the front passenger seat lifted her head and looked at me... yes, obviously, they were close friends. And so, I had a place regardless of who was first on line and I called over a neighbor's kid, since my friends knew his parents. The driver has the right to choose his/her passengers.

Thank G-d for friends.

A Walk Through Ofra

My daughter and her family live in Ofra. Ofra is the most veteran of Shomron (Samarian) yishuvim (Jewish communities.)


Even though they've been living there for four and a half years, I've never wandered around more than her neighborhood. But now she went back to work after an extended maternity leave, and the baby is at a sitter who lives in a different neighborhood.


So enjoy the pictures I took wheeling him through the lovely parkland in the middle of Ofra. I was very pleasantly surprised at how gorgeous it is.


There's no need to travel to a place for a picnic.


You can get to Ofra easily by bus from Jerusalem, Ariel and a few other places in the Shomron. Most, but not all, of the buses also connect Shiloh with Ofra.

Blogger Stops Sticky-Taping!

Your post will be automatically published on 5/6/08 at 8:22 AM.

Sticky-taping is when you post something which you want to stay on the top of your "page." You want it to be the first post seen, even after posting new articles/notes to your blog. I've been doing it for years, but all of a sudden, I got this notice from blogger that they're saving the post. Ok, that has its advantages, but it's not what I need at the moment.

Has blogger made other "arrangements" for those who want to "sticky-tape?" I don't want the post to be there forever. It's not for the banner. I just wanted it to go on top of the one I had just written.

So, now if you're curious and it isn't yet 8:22am for you Israel time today, then you'll just have to wait to see that post.

Quicker Picture Uploading

Photobucket has made uploading pictures easier, at least if you're doing it, as I frequently do, from a cd. You don't have to list picture by picture.

In the "choosing," go to your cd, press Ctrl on your keyboard, and then just keep clicking the ones you want. When you finish choosing, then you mouse-click the "open or is it upload." I've only done it a few times, so my terms may be a little off.

This last time I took a good look at my cd, memorized the numbers I wanted and then chose on Photobucket. And yes, I like Photobucket, because the codes are right there under the picture. It makes it very easy to post pictures.

Yes, I Was at Tel Shiloh Today

It never ceases to amaze me, Every Month It Looks So Different. The light, the colors. This month was very green, dotted with lavender and bits of red.

The ground is also starting to dry in places and get a sandy brown.

I've been to the Tel many times, but today, suddenly I saw a new beauty.


I'll just have to return.

Make an effort to visit.

Bloggin' Busy

Just because nothing new has been posted here for a good few hours doesn't mean that I haven't been blogging. I blogged plenty this morning on Shiloh Musings, and last night something else on The Eye of the Storm.

I also wrote out a two page "quiz" for my 10th grade class. Two pages may be a lot for a "quiz," but "tests" must be announced well in advance and posted on the official "test calendar." Quizzes can be "surprise" or "short notice." These are just reviews of what they were supposed to learn last week. "Supposed to" meaning that I taught it and hope they actually learned something. It's not that I was supposed to teach the material and didn't. It took a lot more time than I had planned for it. Considering that my approach is "remedial" I'm very flexible. Sometimes I have to go into certain "detail" about an aspect of English that the book takes for granted that they know. Of course, they don't know it. Also there are always problems in the books, when they use words and terms not so easily translated into Hebrew. It may be obvious for native English speakers, but not for Israelis learning English.

I didn't really plan to rant. Sorry.

Today's a busy day. It's also the first day of Rosh Chodesh Iyyar, meaning the first day of the Jewish month of Iyyar, the only month which is 100% in the "Omer," the period between Passover and Shavuot. Shavuot is a holiday I was totally unaware of until I became religious. But that's another story...