TWENTY SIX POUNDER

Since we were having over 28 people for Thanksgiving this year, the turkey had to be a large one! We bought a fresh 26 pounder! It almost didn't fit in the pan! It was one delicious turkey and everyone loved it. It was wonderful seeing family again, those that you only see a few times throughout the year and kids that come in from college. But today everyone is going back to temporary homes and far away places. Thank goodness we didn't have anyone stay with us other than our own kids. It would have been chaos! OHHHHH the laundry loads that I have done and the folding and ironing. Can you relate?

POSTCARDS

Here are the postcards that I promised to post. These are from my friends in Group C:

POSTCARD EXCHANGE

I am part of an online postcard exchange with my IJQ group with seven other folks. We were to choose one of the 613 mitzvot to illustrate.

http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm

The one that spoke to me were these two:

365. That a man shall not wear women's clothing (Deut. 22:5)
366. That a woman should not wear men's clothing (Deut. 22:5)

Since I am finishing them up this weekend I didn't want to post photos yet. They will be in the mail soon!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Today I wanted to say how thankful I am for my wonderful family and friends. Without them in my life I would be pretty miserable! This is a day to spend with them but we are having to wait until tomorrow to have our feast. The UT vs A&M football game was moved to 7:00 tonight in Austin and our kids wouldn't miss it for the world. GO HORNS!!!

TURKEY DAY IS COMING

GAMES FOR WHEN WE ARE OLDER

GAMES FOR WHEN WE ARE OLDER

1. Sag, you're It.
2. Hide and go pee.
3. 20 questions shouted into your good ear.
4. Kick the bucket
5. Red Rover, Red Rover, the nurse says Bend Over.

SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE :

1. You sell your home heating system at a yard sale.
2. You have to write post-it notes with your kids' names on them.
3. You change your underwear after a sneeze.

OLD IS WHEN:

1. Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
2. You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go a long.
3. Getting a little action means you don't need fiber today.
4. Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
5. An all-nighter means not getting up to pee!

BE A WEENIE

My daughter is thinking of trying out for the Texas Spirits. It is an honorary social, spirit, and service organization for students at the University of Texas. The purpose of Texas Spirits is to promote spirit among the students of the University of Texas and to serve the University and the Austin community in the best way possible. We demonstrate our spirit by attending UT athletic events together in uniform, setting up the flashcard section before football games with Tejas, and attending numerous other UT events such as the OU Torchlight parade or A&M Hex Rally. No matter what the event, Spirits are loud and proud. "Weenies" are what the Texas Spirits lovingly call their new pledges. Since pledge ship lasts only a semester, it is filled with lots of traditions and activities to make it as fun as possible!

BEADING BONANZA

I have been super busy working on my Jewish Kinship quilt. The beading is somewhat relaxing but it seems like it will never end.

SEXUAL ATTRACTION

Our society does not really expect older people to be particularly sexual. But many older people remain interested in sex and it continues to play an important role in their lives. There is a lot you can do to continue an active sex life. Follow a healthy lifestyle—exercise, eat good food, drink plenty of fluids like water or juices, don’t smoke, and avoid alcohol. Try to reduce the stress in your life. See your doctor regularly. And keep a positive outlook on life. (Sounds simple doesn't it?)

SEXUAL ATTRACTION

Our society does not really expect older people to be particularly sexual. But many older people remain interested in sex and it continues to play an important role in their lives. There is a lot you can do to continue an active sex life. Follow a healthy lifestyle—exercise, eat good food, drink plenty of fluids like water or juices, don’t smoke, and avoid alcohol. Try to reduce the stress in your life. See your doctor regularly. And keep a positive outlook on life. (Sounds simple doesn't it?)

EYEBALLING GAME

This site was brought to my attention this morning. I thought you might enjoy trying it out. You are being asked to "EYE BALL" some pictures and they will score your accuracy. GOOD LUCK!

http://woodgears.ca/eyeball/index.html

THE DRAG

While visiting Austin last weekend we made our stop at the Co-0p to buy University of Texas merchandise. Perry needed a new long sleeve shirt. This busy section of Guadalupe St. that runs along the western edge of the University of Texas campus is know as "the drag." Although more mainstream than earlier years it is traditionally home to underground bookstores, tattoo parlors, and other eclectic shops. Early on, The Drag was the main shopping, dining and entertainment area for University of Texas students because it bordered the campus. The Drag, between 21st and 25th streets on Guadalupe on the UT campus, is considered a hip shopping enclave of clothing, furniture and gift shops, and a great "good eats" zone. Here you can explore clothing shops featuring funky to high-fashion items, trendy furniture stores and shops featuring everything from gifts to cookware. The Drag has always been home to many eclectic, storied, Austin home-grown stores and that tradition continues today.

There are many homeless people hanging around the Drag. I snapped this picture of a man sleeping. If you look carefully you can see his dog in the picture. Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department estimates 3625 individuals are homeless on any given day.

VISITING AUSTIN

Driving to Austin last weekend for our cousin's wedding I noticed these marvelous wildflowers or (weeds) along the highway. They had these really soft looking tops on them.

I also saw this smokestack polluting the air. I wonder what kind of plant this is?

Once we made it into Austin we went straight to THE TAVERN to meet our kids for lunch.

Everyone there was planted and glued to the many TV's they have. UT was playing Kansas so there was a lot of shouting and cheering going on. It was really nice to see Lane, Brent, Avery and her boyfriend, Mike.

KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD

We are in Austin for a family wedding this weekend. This slogan is all around town to keep Austin weird. Why do you ask? It was adopted by a local radio station to promote small businesses in Austin but was later trademarked and used to market merchandise. One interpretation of the slogan is to let people know about Austin's multi-cultural diversity. It will be nice to see all of the family and celebrate our cousin's wedding tomorrow night. We are eating Mexican food tonight for the rehearsal dinner. MARGARITAS GALORE!!!

BLESSINGS

THERE ARE HUNDREDS upon hundreds of Hebrew blessings (b’rakhot or berachot). These are short kinds of prayers uttered directly to God that are used to thank God for daily events (such as eating or drinking), as part of the synagogue service, or as a thankful response to special events in one's life. Blessings are part of the warp and woof of daily Jewish existence...

My religious school class had a "BLESSINGS" concurrent learning day with their parents. I worked with the families to make a drip cloth for their menorahs for Hannukah. Here are some pictures that were taken on that day.

YOGI

I love this new site that I found yesterday. You can subscribe to it and upload your own photos. This is YOGI my dog that just turned one. HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOGI BEAR!!! Just click his image and it will allow you to solve the puzzle.

YOGI

I love this new site that I found yesterday. You can subscribe to it and upload your own photos. This is YOGI my dog that just turned one. HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOGI!!! Just click his image and it will allow you to solve the puzzle.

PUZZLE MANIA

This is such a cool site where you can solve puzzles when you are bored. Click the cat's eyes to solve it.

MOURNING MAC

Houston Zoo bids farewell to Baby Mac the elephant

A very sad announcement from the Houston Zoo today, 2-year-old Mac the Asian elephant died of elephant herpesvirus last night:

Houston Zoo elephant keepers alerted the Zoo’s veterinarians Sunday morning when they saw indications that Mac was exhibiting initial symptoms of elephant herpesvirus. Our keepers perform regular inspections of all our elephants and are trained to look for indications such as loss of appetite, lethargy, and swelling in certain areas of the head.....

There is no cure for herpesvirus in animals or humans. It is only when an elephant is demonstrating clinical illness that zoos are able to detect the EEHV virus in blood or tissue. There is not yet a direct test to detect elephant herpes virus in a healthy animal with a latent (hidden) infection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7LauvXA4YQ

MOURNING MAC

Houston Zoo bids farewell to Baby Mac the elephant

A very sad announcement from the Houston Zoo today, 2-year-old Mac the Asian elephant died of elephant herpesvirus last night:

Houston Zoo elephant keepers alerted the Zoo’s veterinarians Sunday morning when they saw indications that Mac was exhibiting initial symptoms of elephant herpesvirus. Our keepers perform regular inspections of all our elephants and are trained to look for indications such as loss of appetite, lethargy, and swelling in certain areas of the head.....

There is no cure for herpesvirus in animals or humans. It is only when an elephant is demonstrating clinical illness that zoos are able to detect the EEHV virus in blood or tissue. There is not yet a direct test to detect elephant herpes virus in a healthy animal with a latent (hidden) infection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7LauvXA4YQ

FALLEN TREES

If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey-

KRISTALLNACHT

The 70th anniversary of the Nazi pogrom known as "Kristallnacht" or "The Night of Broken Glass" is being remembered today. Kristallnacht is considered the beginning of the Nazi campaign against the Jews in Germany. The two day Nazi progrom left 91 Jews dead, damaged more than 1,000 synagogues and over 7,500 Jewish businesses were looted. An estimated 30,000 Jewish men and boys were sent to concentration camps at this time.

It is so difficult to know how to commemorate a day of such tragedy. It is important to keep this memory alive and teach future generations about this horrible event in history. One of the most effective teaching tools is survivor testimony! This is why I wanted to honor my friend, Ruth, with this quilt that I made. She is one of the survivors who travels around the world telling her story. She is such a remarkable woman!

You can read about this day in history by following this link: http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/kristallnacht/frame.htm

MENTAL HOSPITAL PHONE MENU

• MENTAL HOSPITAL PHONE MENU
• Hello and thank you for calling The State Mental Hospital.
• Please select from the following options menu:
• If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.
• If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.
• If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want,
• stay on the line so we can trace your call.
• If you are delusional, press 7 and
• your call will be forwarded to the Mother Ship.
• If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully
• and a little voice will tell You which number to press.
• If you are manic-depressive, hang up. It doesn't matter which number you press,
• nothing will make you happy anyway.
• If you are dyslexic, press 9-6-9-6.
• If you are bipolar, please leave a message after the beep
• or before the beep or after the beep.
• But Please wait for the beep.
• If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
• If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
• If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
• If you have low self-esteem, please hang up.
• Our operators are too busy to talk with you.
• If you are menopausal, put the gun down,
• hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and cry.
• You won't be crazy forever.
• If you are blonde, don't press any buttons.
• You'll just mess it up.
• This coming week is
• National Mental Health Care week.

THE WATERWALL

The Williams Waterwall is a gorgeous piece of architecture located right next to the Williams Tower in the Uptown District. The 60+ ft. tall structure is in the shape of a semi-circle, with water that cascades down over it and down a series of steps towards the bottom. When you stand in front of it, it is really a spectacular sight. It is situated at the end of a lovely little park surrounded by oak trees, and is a favorite photo opportunity for locals and visitors alike in Houston. I took my friends Marie and Sarah here during the Houston Quilt Festival. Here are the pictures that I took with my camera.

EROTIC BAKERY GOODS

While driving around one day my friend and I came across this bakery and went in to check it out. What fun it was to find inside the bakery lots of delicious cakes and candies for adults. I couldn't pass up these "BOOBS" to bring home for Perry. They are made out of white chocolate. Click on the link below to see some of their most popular cakes for special occasions! http://www.nookyseroticbakery.com/announcements.html