tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21867977962347319832024-02-29T09:25:45.311+02:00 Beneath the Wingsrickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07817042750959998664noreply@blogger.comBlogger1581125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-10834015028247825322023-11-15T17:00:00.002+02:002023-11-15T17:00:20.588+02:00An Open Letter to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau<p> You note in your recent statement that all innocents are valued equally, and that the price of war can not be destruction of "all" innocent Palestinians. You, sir, ask that Israel exercise "maximum restraint".</p><p> Let me start with saying that I , too, am concerned about the innocent Palestinians. People who have sufferred harm at our hands (even if that was caused by the policies of Hamas) are more likely to engage in terror down the road, than those who have not sufferred loses. Not only is this a humanitarian issue, but it is in Israel's best interests to be concerned by the plight of the Palaestinians.</p><p> But here's the rub, while all innocents may be equal, not all enemies are. Hamas has proved again and again that they care not a whit about their fellow citizens (or anyone else). They consistently use civilian mosques, hospitals, schools, and homes for military purposes. They use materials needed for local infrastructure and hospitals for war. They have often prevented civilians from taking advantage of any advantages for safe passage to safer areas. They have lied consistantly to the press about their actions. (Remember when they blamed Israel for the missle that hit Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which was later seen to be a failed launch of their own? And how they deny having murdered Israeli babies in cold blood, despite their OWN videos showing the same? ) </p><p> In addition, Hamas has expressed, again and again, a desire to completely wipe out any Jews and Christians, to kill anyone not willing to 100% accept their ideology. They are similar to ISIS, and the horrific tortores carried out on innocent Israelis has shown them to be acting worse than animals, with no mercy whatsoever. </p><p> So what SHOULD we do, Mr. Trudeau? In 2005 we took out ALL Israeli forces and citizens from GAZA. We urged the citizen of GAZA to build up the Gaza strip as we did in Israel. They could have done so, but Hamas squanderred that opportunity and showed that building a good life for their citizens was not a priority (to put it mildly).</p><p> What would you have us do today to protect the innocent civilians? We have asked the civilians to evacuate, and now that we are in Gaza, have tried our best to provide corridors to do so. We have even supplied soldiers to help guard the civilians evacuting from Hamas members who would shoot them for leaving their posts as living shields. We have supplied food and water. Yes, it is not enough, but unfortunately we know from experience the penchant Hamas has for sneaking in weapons, and trying to take supplies for themselves. We even sent in incubators and Arabic-speaking doctors to al-Shifa Hospital to help in evacuation of civilians. </p><p> So now you ask for "maximum restaint". We have been doing our best. But we must bring pressure on Hamas, in order to get them to agree to return our hostages. What pressure would YOU recommend? Do you really think Hamas will start acting "nice" if we stop attacking them? They will simply crow that they have won! You must realize that the HAMAS leadership does NOT have a mindset like yours. They do NOT desire peace. Look at what they teach their children, and compare it to what we, and you, teach our children.</p><p> I don't see ANY Arab country offering even temporary assylum to Palestinian refugees (understandable, if you look at the history of how past Hamas/Palestinian refugees have formented revolt in every Arab country they went to). </p><p> I don't see you making any coordinated effert to free Gaza from Hamas, nor to protect us, Europe, and even Canada from their radical theology. I hate to inform you of this, but if someone wants to slaughter you (and in a brutal way, at that), you can not make peace with them. </p><p> So should we just stop the war for several days or more , letting Hamas regroup, so that we can lose a HIGHER percentage of our young (and not-so-young) soldiers when the fight reconvenes?!?!?!?!?</p><p> Or should we settle for a ceasefire and "enjoy" another repeat of massacre/hostages/war two or three years down the road? (And the war WILL restart, if the leadership and military strength of Hamas is not obliterated, because their stated objective is to wipe us out!). </p><p>Or should we just lay down and let them slaughter us?* </p><p>WHAT would YOU have us do, Mr. Trudeau? If you have ANY practical suggestions, believe me, we are all ears. </p><p><br /></p><p>* Nope, we are not about to let THAT happen. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquvmjmpKxOEdUx6tzddSwZF6Qpecn8-AWBCi6T2fQxakYnFrAT6usGG-82xR_PZsXGfMCE8G-ySxMbgFVF1XeVNUiq2wBzyBJpK3j9ebmh-8xyw03LS-0VuUXUuv3eeozmFi0MqQhHAbNdewBHljNQPW0LYLgGNuQXGV5pNF41kH1c2aWYGUcROLTp8U/s2048/week44%20RuthPalatnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquvmjmpKxOEdUx6tzddSwZF6Qpecn8-AWBCi6T2fQxakYnFrAT6usGG-82xR_PZsXGfMCE8G-ySxMbgFVF1XeVNUiq2wBzyBJpK3j9ebmh-8xyw03LS-0VuUXUuv3eeozmFi0MqQhHAbNdewBHljNQPW0LYLgGNuQXGV5pNF41kH1c2aWYGUcROLTp8U/s320/week44%20RuthPalatnik.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><p>BRING THEM HOME!</p>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-53340182530757417032023-10-15T02:53:00.002+03:002023-10-15T02:53:24.416+03:00Week 8: October 18 – 24: A “healthy living” insight from the War<p><span style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> The ravaging impact of the attack a week ago
in Israel’s south has hit me, and every other Israeli, hard. Virtually every
Israeli knows someone who was involved, in some way, by the attack, or who have
family members being called up to serve in the planned engagement with Hamas. My
daughter’s ex (my grandson’s father, who I know well, him having lived one
floor above me for a few years) is a very shell-shocked survivor of the carnage
on Saturday a week ago (he was at the music festival). He is simply glad that
by a miracle he survived. (He was shot at; the gun jammed.) My step daughter’s ex (who I also know very
well), is part of the angelic “zaka” crew who went into the burned
slaughterhouse the south had become, to collect body parts and provide burials
for the victims. I have heard from family some of his horrified descriptions of
the sadistic scenes that he witnessed there. I will spare you the details; I
want you to be able to sleep tonight.</span> </p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It immediately was obvious that Israel’s
response would be large, and would probably take an extended period of time.
That made it pretty obvious that I better coral my son to quickly get the door
of my safe room into place* (it had been removed, unwisely).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, my day became largely focused on
surviving real and feared** threats. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">-Is it safe
to take a walk around the perimeter of the town? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">-Is going to
Tel Aviv to take photos a good idea, or a slight (but unneeded) risk?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">- What are
the chances of my being killed (or worse) by an infiltration of terrorists?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">- etc etc
etc etc <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">It was hard
not to be obsessed about it……</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQB29KyOZH8pckuCRzcP0zx-prsxNkCrmdFHasklKrPJU17LsJgM8gjLgy0_c4H6YkFwiFteac5gdsAmjcSSDFiDUyf4RhV9vdIK-tvuaHkCI-WaDjdUvlOzjFu1WOPLByXNwOFlDJRvd5hgNZaJqdYGEqZSkllRrSrw0cGgLwxQneOtxf27c9AlzSBo/s2048/week41%20RuthPalatnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQB29KyOZH8pckuCRzcP0zx-prsxNkCrmdFHasklKrPJU17LsJgM8gjLgy0_c4H6YkFwiFteac5gdsAmjcSSDFiDUyf4RhV9vdIK-tvuaHkCI-WaDjdUvlOzjFu1WOPLByXNwOFlDJRvd5hgNZaJqdYGEqZSkllRrSrw0cGgLwxQneOtxf27c9AlzSBo/w430-h286/week41%20RuthPalatnik.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>[Image: Composited scene using minitures and an air raid shelter for those who do not have a "safe room".]<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> However, my attitude shifted a bit early in
the week when I received a notice of the death of a good friend’s husband. For a moment, I assumed that he had been a
victim of fighting somewhere, and then I realized that he was too old to be in
the army, and since they do not live in the south, had probably “only” died of
natural causes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> THEN it hit me: My chances of dying in the
next month of rocket fire is probably less than the chances of me dying from a
heart attack or stroke.*** <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> I should be working on my sleep and exercise
the same way I worked to get my son over here to fix the safe room. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> I should be tracking my food and making healthy
choices if I really want to stay alive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> I should be making a “safe room” of healthy
living to protect myself, building it not with bricks, but with healthy
choices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">*He did!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">**This whole blog is really based on my being afraid of death.
In reality, I have realized any fear of death is massively overshadowed by fear
of sadistic terrors….. But I decided
that if the comparison mentioned above is helpful to anyone- which includes me-
it was worth writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">*** If the West Bank walls are breached, however, those
statistics may be altered considerably. That is also part of my “feared” threats. In my mind I know that G-d has His own plans,
and that I need to trust him. But ingraining that trust in my heart and
feelings is vastly harder than to understand it intellectually. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> A final note.</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> I believe that there is a very good way to help
deal with the stress of really difficult situations. One of my “favorite” holocaust memoirs (can a
book on the holocaust be “liked”?) is a book called <u>To Vanquish the Dragon</u>
by Pearl Beinish. This book follows a group of “Beis Yaacov” (a religious orthodox
Jewish girls school) students, as they experienced the holocaust. What is
interesting is not only how some of them survived physically, but more than
that- how they survived emotionally. The answer is that each of these young
women was centered on helping her friends, rather than on her own survival. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"> And indeed, those here in my town are
quickly realizing that the best treatment for a numbing inactivity of fear is
the act of getting busy, and helping others. The amount of support for soldiers
and people displaced from southern Israel is massive.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">LET US ALL TRY AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER KINDER PLACE THIS WEEK....</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">And for anyone who wants to read my views on Israel VS Hamas. please read my post from a few hours ago/</span></p><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><b><u>
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<!--[endif]--></u></b></span></div>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-11429746377926178352023-10-15T00:17:00.004+03:002023-10-15T10:36:19.072+03:00Thoughts On Israel, Gaza, etc. <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I know that
once Israel invades GAZA, the destruction and inevitable civilian deaths that
will occur, even people who were shocked by Hamas’s atrocities last week will
start saying that Israel’s attacks are “revengeful”, “out of proportion”,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to address this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past, Israel has targeted basically
MILITARY Hamas, as opposed to the political wing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel wrongly assumed that the political wing
would value the lives of Palestinians, provide services, and maybe even one day
reach out to make peace. But we were wrong, terribly wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamas has shown itself to be an absolutely sadistic
growth- a cancer for both Israel AND Gazans as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does Hamas protect its citizens? No! The
footage coming out of Gaza’s hospital tonight shows civilian casualties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Israel is targeting HAMAS installations
(that Hamas purposefully puts in civilian buildings, in order to make the
Gazans “human shields”- which-by the way- is a war crime), there should be lots
of injured Hamas soldiers also arriving at the hospitals. But THEY are in the
concrete tunnels, tunnels built with funds that could have built schools, schools, etc. They are even so brazen and callous as to tell civilians
not to heed Israel’s pleas (given in leaflets dropped over Gaza) to evacuate
northern Gaza. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaza is often termed by the press as “one
giant prison”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it is. But when
someone consistently commits murder and mayhem, who is guilty, the jailor or
the jailed? In 2005, Israel made a significant concession when they closed 21 Jewish
settlements in Gaza, displacing over 8000 Israelis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was not a response towards peace
from the Palestinian authority, but, ironically, the rise to power in 2007 of
Hamas (largely due also to widescale corruption in the PA) and the shooting of
rockets from Gaza into Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLbWFLHfNJuu8zgPGn0mBRtgjKHg0YNd4DYqtSNLb2BsCKn5c4SG-tG6oH_x9pGL4eliV705LVB9PZBss8S2SNqa6uAel4d_Jrth0Uo8nGgSx6-AB1K2C0G48g2vMYFpW1MWv-5xjuf2paqDP8OsmcBIo-lesSu68azydAQJ77Q_xNhfWrkodpOfdIAs/s2400/inbound2927006443278476534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLbWFLHfNJuu8zgPGn0mBRtgjKHg0YNd4DYqtSNLb2BsCKn5c4SG-tG6oH_x9pGL4eliV705LVB9PZBss8S2SNqa6uAel4d_Jrth0Uo8nGgSx6-AB1K2C0G48g2vMYFpW1MWv-5xjuf2paqDP8OsmcBIo-lesSu68azydAQJ77Q_xNhfWrkodpOfdIAs/s320/inbound2927006443278476534.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even tonight, the coverage of the news media
is wholly on Gaza. There is no mention of the 50 plus <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alerts for incoming rockets and a few
attempted terrorist infiltrations from just the last few hours that appear on
my phone. Each rocket sent could kill many here, but here is ISRAEL, the army
is NOT hiding in tunnels under civilians, but tries to protect its citizens with
the iron dome system. Also nearly every citizen has access to a safe room or a
bomb shelter. We have not been using our concrete to build terror tunnels. It
seems that we are only seen as “right” when we manage to allow ourselves to be
killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason for the proportionality of higher
deaths between Palestinians to Israel and is not just due to Israel striking
back harder, but also due to Israel trying very hard to protect their citizens,
while Hamas does the opposite, using civilians as human shields. And while
sometimes Israel messes up, they DO try to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza- an
attitude that Hamas cynically uses against us. As Golda Meir once famously
said: “We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children
more than they hate us”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t say that the footage of injured
children in Gaza does not move me. It does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the type of violence visited on us by Hamas on last Saturday, the
sheer sadism and evil shown towards Israelis-this shows that any dreams of
making peace (which many leftist Israelis campaigned for) is impossible with
Hamas. (It is worth noting, that being a leftist, or even an Arab, would not give
mercy to any Israeli confronted by the Hamas terrorists.) Hamas must be
completely irradicated, like a cancer, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because if you do not kill a cancer, it will
kill you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now to the issue of “revenge”. This is not
about revenge. This is about irradicating the cancer of Hamas (and by some
hope, some dream, of maybe getting our captives back.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this was about revenge, we would just bomb
Gaza off the map. But no, we are preparing to send in ground troops. We are
preparing an assault that will unfortunately undoubtably add to our terrific
death toll from last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would not
risk our young men and women for revenge. We had more than enough burials last week. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now a few cancers have new targeted therapy
that will only attack cancer cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
if anyone has a good idea on how to irradicate the cancer of Hamas, or of their extremism,
that will not hurt the citizens of Israel or the citizens of Gaza, please let
us in on the secret. Meanwhile, it seems that the “treatment” will
unfortunately, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, kill “healthy” cells
alongside as well. But just like with cancer, do we really have a choice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We in Israel are not willing for last week’s
atrocities to become a “normal” reoccurrence, every two years or so, like the
rocket barrages have become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forgive us,
but we really have no intention of letting Hamas push us into the sea. We will beat this cancer. We have no choice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-25654056015729144952022-05-10T20:54:00.002+03:002022-05-10T20:54:21.516+03:00 Aladdin’s Lamp<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJveWBO9RRLoKRsqaqHfAS9ikAiIlpV-k0XLnEzEX4Y8Fn5sZXmnQrAiuX6u4actavIGkTB-a4zWpppaM-UA14MzGVl-lNFLwPTAjfQ0n8nBg7-kT0nUl2-Zyb3j8utGZlXHkKh6RgiPCicVHHp8KZ75IOpG5QM0dIt4JtGjw6n3tj38iAmeXWa0lG/s2048/week16%20RuthPalatnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="2048" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJveWBO9RRLoKRsqaqHfAS9ikAiIlpV-k0XLnEzEX4Y8Fn5sZXmnQrAiuX6u4actavIGkTB-a4zWpppaM-UA14MzGVl-lNFLwPTAjfQ0n8nBg7-kT0nUl2-Zyb3j8utGZlXHkKh6RgiPCicVHHp8KZ75IOpG5QM0dIt4JtGjw6n3tj38iAmeXWa0lG/w460-h303/week16%20RuthPalatnik.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="dufha-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dufha-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dufha-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> The week before last (last week’s album) the 52 frames photo challenge theme was “Lamp”. (I have been doing this weekly for 360 weeks.) I was terribly busy (it was the middle of Passover, and I was cooking for 12 people for the last two days of the holiday). BUT I had a good idea: Aladdin’s lamp. I had thought of the idea ages ago, and previously had purchased a lamp that suited the theme, saving it for when the 52 frames theme would “fit”. I asked my son to come pose as Aladdin, but I guess he forgot, never showing up. So I “posed” myself, using light painting. The results were not that great; hopefully someday I will shoot the idea again, better.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="74vc3-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="74vc3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="74vc3-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="42o57-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="42o57-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="42o57-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">OK, I can hear you all saying: ”Ahhhhhhh- WHAT has THIS to do with weight loss?” Well, here is how:</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="4a1fm-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4a1fm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4a1fm-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="eo15r-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eo15r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="eo15r-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">One of the fellow members on the 52 frames site wrote a comment on the photo: “I hope he granted your WISHES!” I replied: “Actually, it was me, so I guess I will need to do it myself!”</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="ebasc-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ebasc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ebasc-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="172km-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="172km-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="172km-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Yep...... there is no fairy G-dmother, no magic Aladdin, no “Wish and it will happen”. </span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="2dgnd-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2dgnd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2dgnd-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to get the “good things” you wish for, you will need to make a plan to reach those successes, and work on carrying out those plans. There are no shortcuts. The good news is that by changing our actions, we CAN work "magic"!</span></div><div><span data-offset-key="2dgnd-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1p3nu" data-offset-key="be3ir-0-0" style="background-color: #242526; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-2747457655374171322022-01-04T13:01:00.000+02:002022-01-04T13:01:00.697+02:00A Shattered Peace<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiidwg0QFso_rtPRN_Jd_1cgrAA1QTfkjKNWf-2eZDSYXuEDeOB9tRvPpHmZOW3NRWs6KVdjxBcwbr-xWx7NB2r1jSBeB8Q_fBDBCm4toJsvXYF_YDBG_Zsk7bzkhuRpmEhd5VDQ8e0qxNP8bec48ofRPHH064vL09bkkSev_z92HNfmpny15PjPWtw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiidwg0QFso_rtPRN_Jd_1cgrAA1QTfkjKNWf-2eZDSYXuEDeOB9tRvPpHmZOW3NRWs6KVdjxBcwbr-xWx7NB2r1jSBeB8Q_fBDBCm4toJsvXYF_YDBG_Zsk7bzkhuRpmEhd5VDQ8e0qxNP8bec48ofRPHH064vL09bkkSev_z92HNfmpny15PjPWtw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">[photo: a glass paperweight of a dove, and a collage of same piece. Photo is mine; do not copy!]</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Well, it’s early January,
and the traditional attitude is “A new year! A NEW chance! How exciting!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But honestly, that ”new
year excitement” just didn’t register at all with me this year. And judging
from what I have been reading online, I am not the only one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh last year I WAS
excited! After some nine months of virtual house arrest, the vaccines were
coming out soon. I had hopes that soon I would be getting the jab that equaled
a “get out of jail free” card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully
this nightmare of COVID would soon be behind us and we would be (pretty much)
back to “normal”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But of course it
didn’t happen like that, and we are facing a brand new 2022 with COVID rates
soaring, threats of hospitals collapsing, and again needing to stay away from (or
be extremely cautious around) the people we love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our anticipated dreams of a peaceful 2022 were shattered as if it were made of glass. </span>And after last year’s big letdown, it is
jolly hard to get very enthusiastic about seems a pipe dream of normalcy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are tired of
all the restrictions. And all the fighting over politics, COVID, etc has
wrecked havoc in many families and friendships, let alone the devastation from lives lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So how can we get some of that excitement over life and the
opportunities ahead? How can we tap into the shrivelled-up optimist lost
somewhere deep inside us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is to
look on the good side. Yes, the last two years have been tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First let us acknowledge that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But good things have happened too! Can we wash
off the black mud of disappointments, stress, death, and loneliness that has
dirtied the diamonds of the last year? Can we also note the good things, and be
grateful for them? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222628; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we make an
effort, I am sure that we can. And we will be better people for it. And happier
ones as well. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-17333199204151213152021-04-26T00:33:00.000+03:002021-04-26T00:33:07.066+03:00“I SHOULD….” OR “How do we get OUT of here?”<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30GaGWLfVxGvNw48ht1-x3e1fPbINkb3LE1aJRthtUEJijD8tqWCnjlXT1l2dBkE-x6iijex5498y0RqarpqgI5TWCSTa6VI7lEcbHphppExaSP9pYxWYo6mtFnqjarTtD_FU3MF-Ic0/s2048/week+15+Ruth+Palatnik+trapped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30GaGWLfVxGvNw48ht1-x3e1fPbINkb3LE1aJRthtUEJijD8tqWCnjlXT1l2dBkE-x6iijex5498y0RqarpqgI5TWCSTa6VI7lEcbHphppExaSP9pYxWYo6mtFnqjarTtD_FU3MF-Ic0/w268-h320/week+15+Ruth+Palatnik+trapped.JPG" width="268" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> (Photo is mine, all rights reserved)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Do you feel a bit
like these figurines? A bit trapped by bad habits, and wondering how in the
world you are going to get out?</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Well, if you read
magazines, talk to your doctor, or talk with friends, you will probably get a
lot of suggestions. Or may you are even telling yourself: “I SHOULD do this and
that, I SHOULD do such and such….” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Frankly, the lists of
things I SHOULD be doing hounds me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And the reality that in NO way can I fit into the day all the
things I SHOULD do – at least not without giving up a lot of other stuff. (And
then some of THAT stuff will comprise my NEW “I should do” list LOL.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> So let go of the
long “should list”. Instead make an “I
can” list. A list of POSITIVE actions. And tailor that list to the goals you want to achieve, and the time and resources
at your disposal. What CAN you reasonably do? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Make a “I can” list, and THEN you will transform it into a “I WILL” list. Because “can” is not enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-38684633806877617902020-04-30T08:53:00.002+03:002020-04-30T08:55:53.072+03:00I will emerge stronger<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> Let's face it-we are living in a time of historic challenges, and just about EVERYTHING seems "topsy-turvey".</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> But we need to grab the opportunity underlying this situation. Let me explain.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> One of my many (grown) sons has ONE (15year-old) son whom he has been having trouble to get to conform to "social distancing" rules. [No surprise here. This grandson is the one who somehow ALWAYS misses the first bus home that the remainder of his family goes on.] I tried to call all of my grand-kids just before or in the middle of Passover; he was consistently "not at home". Finally a week after Passover, I managed to catch him (by phone). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> We talked for about an hour. Without attacking him directly for his irresponsible behavior (his father said "been there, done that") I just slowly, on the side fed him pertinent info. I did this all with "My friend who has Corona"... "Did you hear that..." etc Info such as:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">-the virus can be in the air if someone coughed there 4 minutes ago, and you don't know it </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">-a full third of little kids with COVID 19 are asymptomatic</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">-even a "mild" case feels like being run over by a tractor, can cause lung damage, and even they suspect liver damage (ie, You do NOT want to get this!!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">- that this will not be finished in another week, but that people like me may need to stay indoors until there is a vaccine, and if the rate doesn't go down (due to lack of social distancing), MANY in the community (like a best friend's Dad- I did NOT say HIS dad) will have no income.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">-Even though a very small % of younger and middle aged people die from this, it can happen. I had a 3% chance or less of having a child with Down syndrome, but when I had her, she had 100% Down syndrome. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> He really paused when he realized that I had NOT allowed my son who lives nearby to come for Passover, and that our foreign worker is scared to leave the house.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> At the end, I told him about someone who had "lost" a year of his life due to cancer- he was too ill too weak, to do ANYTHING. This person's response now was "I am not going to waste a year on Corona", and he is sticking to a daily schedule, albeit at home.: I continued:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> "You know, as I see it, we all have three choices. ONE: We can waste this time just staying at home, being bored, overeating. TWO: We can say "To hell with this, I will do what I want and go where I want" (But then, if we DO get sick , and infect someone, and THEY die, will we EVER be able to live with ourselves....?) OR THREE: We can make a vision of where we want to be in 6 months, a year from now. And work on that. I want to exercise daily, study photography every week, spend time studying Bible. You might want to make up a study time with your dad, do a kindness daily ---like read a story daily to your siblings and give your mom a break ...." (I admit he snorted at that! LOL), "spend some time learning English, etc. THEN WHEN THIS IS OVER WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONGRATULATE OURSELVES ON A JOB WELL DONE AND FEEL A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> So I throw the question out to you: Besides just being alive, WHERE do you want to be when this is over? It won't happen by itself. What do you need to get there? Are we going to act like a stubborn (STUPID) 15 year old or do we want to say a year from now- "I survived; I accomplished". </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> So let us all think of goals for the next few months: personal, ATTAINABLE long term personal goals- and make a concrete plan to reach them!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjgItoOlRyd08JSksqCRyyGUKPfGkB3Heei6cd-wx0j_h6DeGp96qGWHTUlARHL3FQw3oChqRm_FU6NjNBxnGUMuj8iUJY_cIhLtH41TVL25ABy3xcm4yGt2oY_ODM_Hgnwi7HyrDubM/s1600/I+will+emerge+stronger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjgItoOlRyd08JSksqCRyyGUKPfGkB3Heei6cd-wx0j_h6DeGp96qGWHTUlARHL3FQw3oChqRm_FU6NjNBxnGUMuj8iUJY_cIhLtH41TVL25ABy3xcm4yGt2oY_ODM_Hgnwi7HyrDubM/s320/I+will+emerge+stronger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">(photo is mine, do not copy)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-55533447322372486822019-09-02T19:12:00.000+03:002019-09-02T19:13:23.616+03:00“I’m OK”-Is that ENOUGH?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;">We all have a tendency to be
hard on ourselves- to be aware of our own failings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
didn’t exercise over vacation”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I ate WAY too much last night!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I weigh too much”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These self-condemnations lead, in general, to
lack of action, rather than attaining our goals of self-improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So society (at least the psychologists) tell
us: “You are OK as you are”. These have lead to all sorts of inspirational
songs. "You are perfect" etc.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is the serial murderer also telling himself
“I’m OK”? Can we really believe “I’m OK”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, there is a flip side, too. As
much as we may tell ourselves that we are OK as we are, society still honors
the athelete who attains success at great sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our women’s magazines will hold aloft that inspiring
story of the couple who adopted<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10 kids,
and the clothes catalogues do not post photos of size 20 models.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a lending library of English books
in my house. One of the books is Sarah Rigler’s <u>Emuna with Love and Chicken
Soup,</u> about the incredible Henny Machlis, who regularly hosted 150 people
for shabbat each week, and who extended love and hospitality to all she came in
contact with. Most women return the book with</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> comments about how
inspiring it was. But a few women react differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gee, I could NEVER do that. It is so far
beyond me….” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span style="color: #e06666;"><i> </i><i>[Caveat: I am
bringing in Jewish sources </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><i>(because that is what I am familiar with),</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><i> but you
can take these lessons and apply them,</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><i> no matter what your belief (or lack thereof.)]</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This month is the
Jewish month of Elul, the month leading up to the Jewish New Year and the day
of Atonement (“Yom Kippur”). And we are expected to try and improve ourselves
in some way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if ‘I am OK as
I am”, why should I change? And if I should be a perfectly righteous person,
how can I say “I’m OK”? How should we view this dichotomy of ideas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word “ELUL” (remember, that Jewish month)
is spelled<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(inHebrew) alef-lamed-vav-Lamed.
These letters are also the first letters (in order) of the Hebrew phrase “Ani
L'Dodi V'Dodi Li"), which is Song of Songs 6:1-4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loosely translated, it means "I am my
beloveds and my beloved is mine". Now many see the Song of Songs as a
simple love song. So how did it end up in scriptures? Because it is also an
allegory of the love between man and his creator. Therefore, say our ancient
sages, we can see that ELUL is a good time to work on ourselves and draw closer
to G-d’s expectations of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Rabbi
Leff, the Rabbi of our Moshav, points out that the first word is “ani”
(I)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we want to improve, we first
need to know our “I”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are my
strengths? What am I capable of? What are the things that realistically are
limiting us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as I see it,
when we enter a (any) period where we want to improve, we need to know our
strengths. Yes, “I AM OK… I don’t need to be perfect”, but I am also capable of
SO much MORE!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have capabilities, and
with these gifts that I have come a responsibility. A responsibility to
improve. For my family. For the world. But especially for myself. The moment we
realize what we are capable of, we realize that staying in a static state is
not enough. I do not need to be perfect. But no, “I am OK” is NOT enough.
Because you are capable of SO much more!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-29683891174560602852017-10-23T14:04:00.000+03:002017-10-24T13:10:57.154+03:00Totality was TOTALLY Awesome! Photos from Total Eclipse USA August<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-77546330053674508082017-10-23T13:53:00.004+03:002017-10-23T14:01:22.756+03:00One Of Us - a review and remarks on "children off the derech"Last night I had occasion to see Netflix's new movie "One of Us". This movie follows fragments in the lives of a few individuals who have left the Chasidic Satmar community in the United States.<br />
I am writing this from the viewpoint of an Orthodox woman (although not chasidic), who is the mother of four children who have "left the 'derech' (path)" of Orthodoxy. I will add that I have an excellent connection with these children, as good as I have with my religious ones. This doesn't mean that I always agree with them, but occasionally I disagree with all of my children.<br />
First I must mention that I have absolutely no knowledge of the families/cases/ incidences portrayed in the movie, or any deep knowledge of the community involved. I HAVE seen how the community here has reacted to children "leaving the fold", reactions which can be quite diverse.<br />
<br />
[Photo: two of my children, quite diverse, but who love each other despite it all....]<br />
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<br />
<br />
I was happy to see that the director did allow some coverage of community members who apparently were open-hearted enough to befriend the subjects, realizing the underlying pain there. On the other side, we do see incidences of apparent violence directed against a woman who had claimed abuse from her husband.<br />
Unfortunately, in every religious group there are people who are not living up to the ideals of the community. Every community has its rapists, child-molestors, and peodopiles. Yet this is NO reason to condone it. However, Orthodox Judaism and chassidut is a FAR cry from cult-like groups such as that run by Warren Jeffs and his ilk. (Even if the dress of the women may at first appear similar. )<br />
Unfortunately, there ARE those who take advantage of the groups reluctance to involve the police, the tendency of people to blame the victims, etc. And rarely there ARE women who may falsely accuse men of certain acts, if it seems expediant to do so- for reasons of financial gain, political expediency, custody battles, or perhaps revenge.... Yes, there are two sides to every coin, and unless there is some type of coaberating evidence, it may often boil down to his word against hers.<br />
And as much as outsiders often cannot fathom the mindset of arranged marriages, the system does work in general... and I suspect that the rate of satisfaction and happiness in such marriages is no less then those in the general population. Yes, there ARE cases where young women were coerced into marriages by parents who did not have their daughter's best interests at heart- but these are few and far between. Most parents are committed to finding a spouse who is not only fitting religiously for their child, but fitting their personality, and dreams as well.<br />
All that being said, there are problems of abuse in the community that need addressing. Part of the Orthodox world have started addressing these problems, although these efforts are not nearly enough (something shared, incidentally, by the secular world). How much of these efforts have filtered into the more closed community of Satmar, I do not know. What I would have liked to see in the movie "One of Us" would be some exploration of these topics.<br />
Another thing that needs noting is the high rate of drug abuse and poor job opportunities for those dropping out of the community, and indeed in some cases, for those in the community. These problems are also being dealt with to some degree in parts of the orthodox world, although probably less so in the more closed community of Satmar.<br />
Much of this all boils down to a cultural battle between those realizing that the world has changed, and we must adapt carefully to those changes, in order to preserve our underlying values, and those who believe that the only way to deal with society's headlong pursuit of hedonism (like lemmings running into the sea) is to detach themselves from it as much as possible.<br />
Quite frankly, there is what to say for both sides of the argument. For example, I use the internet, knowing that I have no desire to use it for sexual purposes- I use it, theoretically at least, solely for staying in contact with my non-religious children, to stay informed about various things (wikipedia, "how-to" articles,and the like), and for weight-loss support. However, I have gradually seen a slipping lately into using it as a source of entertainment, and I am as likely to watch a movie today as to pick up a book. And this I am realizing needs to change... too much time online is definitely anti-family, and the often warped values of secular society impregnate every inch of the entertainment industry. Yet I find tearing myself away from the screen extremely difficult. It is indeed a mud puddle with quicksand propensities.<br />
Where do we draw the lines between educating our children enough so that they can work as something more than a clerk at Target... and embracing the vulgarities of secular culture? How much do we need to protect ourselves as a community vrs being confident enough that if a potential Torah scholar is exposed to the opportunity to use his intellect in other ways, he will still chose to remain a Torah scholar because of the beauty of Torah? How do we promote acceptance of individuals who are NOT cut out to stay in Kollel for life, and retain them as valued members of the community, while not making children of Torah scholars feel left behind compared to their richer classmates whose fathers are professionals? These are all areas that need discussion, and sadly the Orthodox community will probably often have divisions within due to discussions and conflicts along these lines.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
Re the movie "One of Us" , I found it rather disjointed, with no clear explorations of any of the above topics. The movie was sorely about the pain felt by those who left the community, but even that exploration was rather haphazard.<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
My personal advice to parents in the Orthodox community:<br />
1) (And this is by FAR the most important!!) :<br />
Spend time with your children, let them know that you love them. Always. (You can disapprove of actions but not stop being a parent.)<br />
And doing stuff for them is not enough. They need hugs and good words. Value their individual skills and talents. Be willing to leave the house a wreck at times in order to get out and do stuff with them. Discipline without anger.<br />
<br />
2) If your children do not get any English/ science/ geography education, supply it at home. Do science experiments for fun. Teach them about the wonders of the human body. (Just this last shabbat, by granddaughters had a blast listening to their own heart beats with a stethoscope.) Have frum books about science, history, etc. around. And talk with them about them! Buy and play games which teach basic cognitive skills.<br />
<br />
3) From even a young age, teach children (gradually) about their body, modesty (in talk and action), and appropriate social boundaries. Be sure they have enough vocabulary to report abuse/ crossing of bouldries/ "bad secrets"<br />
[My previos posts on this topic gives some ideas/info:<br />
<a href="http://beneaththewings.blogspot.co.il/2011/02/sad-story-and-sadder-yet-if-we-do.html">see HERE</a><br />
<a href="http://beneaththewings.blogspot.co.il/2009/10/little-kid-at-door.html">and here</a> ]Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-77509780726700699632016-03-16T15:49:00.002+02:002016-03-16T15:49:11.282+02:00Where to, America?<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t been
posting here in quite a while. And when I do it generally isn’t about politics.
There is a lot involved in the political sphere, and generally I feel, both in
Israeli and in American politics, that I really have nothing to add to what is
already being said by people who are more well-informed than I.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I tend to vote conservatively.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- I am a supporter of Israel’s right to exist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- I PERSONALLY believe in family values. (However, I have
learned over the years that people who are gay are real people, and while I do
not agree with them, I do not feel it my right to bash them for this, nor to
deny them the right to make their own choices.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- I believe that there may be at times a need for capital
punishment, but believe equally that the
way to decrease crime in the long run is
to make having a job feasible, and good education.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I believe that we need to help the poor and insure health
care for all, without encouraging people to just ride on the backs of people
who DO work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- In addition, I feel that America must wake up to the
dangers of terror attacks without vilifying everyone who is extremely
religiously observant, or non-Christian. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of the above is
to give you an idea of where I am coming from. But now to my main point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have often
wondered how the American political system manages to choose candidates that
are so inept at times for the job. I often have said, “My Mom has more common
sense than all of them together.” (Not that she would want the job!) Over the last few years I have become much
more aware of the roles that big business and funding plays in elections. I
understand that big business wants to protect their interests, and frankly we
need business for the economy. We need
somehow to find a way to protect business’s legitimate interests while not
letting them trample pell-mell over the little guy. And I hope that we can control the power of
business without becoming a socialist state. These are all important election
issues this year, ones which I feel inadequate to address fully.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there is a
point that I feel must be made. For the first time I am wondering if America is
on the brink of disaster. (I felt a bit
like this after Hurricane Katrina, but not as much as now.) I see society becoming more and more
fragmented, more and more extreme (in BOTH directions). When we have movements
like the BDS refusing to let Israelis tell their side of the story, and on the
other side, a candidate like Trump condoning violence, it seems to me that we
are becoming more and more polarized.
How have we managed to become a society where if you disagree with me, I
am your enemy? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used to think
that the radicals were the fringe of the society. That most people had more
sense. But as Trump wins state after state,<b> I am,
quite frankly for the first time in my life embarrassed to be an American. </b>When
did we become so decisive? (And this is not just a criticism of the
conservatives. Super liberals who go around with an air of “free speech for all
unless you disagree with me” are equally guilty.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if Trump gets elected, I dread to think what would
happen, with his ineptitude at diplomacy, if there would be the equivalent of a
Cuban Missile Crises on his watch. I think that we better all re-watch <i>Fail Safe</i> and <i>The Day After.</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But equally
dangerous is how our society will self-implode if we cannot learn to help and care
for each other, even when we disagree. AND to work
on making basic health care, education, and economic security available to all, or most, of our citizens.
Even if that means not being able to afford the latest iphone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, just for the
record, I DID take the time to vote, and plan to do so in November. I just hope
that the “least-terrible” candidate that I vote for will be someone I can
stomach casting a ballot for.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-71031207066457127242015-11-21T20:51:00.000+02:002015-11-21T20:51:51.986+02:00Why Is the World so Blase' About Terror in Israel?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">One thing over the last week has rankled
many Israelis over the last week.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">While
we also showed our support for France after the last attack, we noted very
carefully how that type of</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">support never
seems to come our way.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, the terror
attack in Paris was larger, but population percentage wise, probably not. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The world noted that Parisians have to deal
with a new reality… a reality that we in Israel have been living with, 24/7 for
a LONG time. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Why is there such a discrepancy
in the attitude towards Paris/Israel by the world at large?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> While some may be because of anti-Semitism,
I think the answer is much simpler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The average American, while he may sympathize
with Israelis who experience terror, probably does not feel threatened by
it. The Israelis, by their thinking, are
experiencing terror because they do not reach peace with the Arabs, because of
the Gaza wars. They theorize that the Arabs, reacting to their situation,
attack Israelis. This is no threat to the American in Indianapolis, Memphis, or
Chicago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> However, when Arab terrorists hit Paris, the
gut reaction of the average American is probably, “there, but for the grace of
G-d, goes I”. The target this time was
not soldiers, not Jews, but your normal-everyday citizen. I suspect that this feeling of vulnerability
is what led to the wide outpouring of support for Paris this last week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well, Americans, please note that the
Islamic terrorists are set on wiping out Western culture. This is not a
political issue, but a religious/cultural one. And when you side with
terrorists, WHEREVER they strike, “legitimizing” their actions, you just help
to spread their lies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Folks we are in the long haul here. America
and Europe will need to do what is standard here in Israel: search bags of
people entering malls, movie theaters, government buildings, and the like. But
if we want democracy to survive, we will need to call terror what it IS, and
work against it. That does not mean that political solutions can not help. They
may at times. But the extremist will not be satisfied by these “solutions”, and
we need to wake up to that fact, FAST.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-79576580411956316882015-11-01T18:08:00.002+02:002015-11-01T18:08:39.427+02:00The Hikers<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">I have done a fair amount of hiking in my
life, a lot of it in the Rocky Mountains. There, on the trail, it is quite
common to give a nod or a good word to fellow hikers you pass. Sometimes as you
“leap-frog” each other on the trail a few times, one can even strike up a
conversation, ask them to take that perfect photo with you in the foreground….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> While we would never do such a thing in the
city, somehow in the park trails we do. Perhaps part of that is because in case
of emergency, our lives may well be saved by that fellow unknown hiker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> [Once when I was young, my parents and
I, along with my older brother (who
was about 14-years old????) went on a hike to either Fern or Odessa lake.
Suddenly we heard an SOS whistle from the “little Matterhorn” which towered
above us. My Dad quickly pulled out HIS whistle to signal them that they had
been heard, and my brother ran the (considerable) distance down to the
trailhead in order to alert the park rangers. We heard later that one of the
rock climbers had broken their leg. Our
hike for the day was interupted … but
we would have never dreamed of not helping another hiker.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> But the hikers who always puzzle me are
those I see sprinting along the trail. I realize that they are doing it for
their fitness goals…but besides the dangers** of running along a rocky trail, I
am flabbergasted that they would willingly let such gorgeous scenery pass by in
a blur. Even when going up rocky paths
slowly, I need to remind myself to occasionally glance up from the stony path
at my feet, and note the beauty and wildlife around….(That’s one reason hiking
I enjoy so much hiking with my brother. Besides the added safety, and his
knowledge, even if one of us is oblivious to the deer ahead, the other will
often catch it and cue off the other!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[image: deer near the trail]</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcLDlBtkrqd9DQbEKx4036pDnJjMk0PCOhup-vkzDVdLWm1ZcX1sV7J0-8wswXf5newmdQfo9nkORFybjXILZAY6hBuvc_AmapJkwLNiOZyY65D99A48fsjhiJwo8JxqdxRqlgUhlwRc/s1600/deer+fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcLDlBtkrqd9DQbEKx4036pDnJjMk0PCOhup-vkzDVdLWm1ZcX1sV7J0-8wswXf5newmdQfo9nkORFybjXILZAY6hBuvc_AmapJkwLNiOZyY65D99A48fsjhiJwo8JxqdxRqlgUhlwRc/s320/deer+fixed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">** It is
easy to fall if running, and generally the few big cat attacks in the Rockies
have been on runners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> OK, ladies, you may all be asking by now,
“OK, nice story, but WHAT the H*LL does this have to do with me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The point I am going to make is this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Often we set goals for ourselves. Whether
it is to climb a peak, fashion the greatest Halloween Decorations on the block,
or loose ten pounds….. we often get so set on our goal that we miss the
wildflowers growing at the side of the trail.
We often think “When I get to my goal weight, THEN I’ll be happy!” We envision being pleased with ourselves and
having peace of mind upon reaching our goals…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[image: bee on flower, with saying: "Enjoy the journey".]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwGxgimkM2bUP74Rh0ZZKcfCXE7JGFJcvrtnd5r4v7lWDLJnHewRAAQM4-LQJ2ugtR0DFWdaZ_s5_rlrzk_LG9zpwLFkiaap7Z5QA3_AdmNZ0g8-dco_gEu3hn1VY4GbvcJlgAuEL_j8/s1600/Enjoy+the+Journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwGxgimkM2bUP74Rh0ZZKcfCXE7JGFJcvrtnd5r4v7lWDLJnHewRAAQM4-LQJ2ugtR0DFWdaZ_s5_rlrzk_LG9zpwLFkiaap7Z5QA3_AdmNZ0g8-dco_gEu3hn1VY4GbvcJlgAuEL_j8/s320/Enjoy+the+Journey.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> But allowing ourselves to only be
satisfied on reaching our goal will only lead to frustration. YES we will reach
our goal, but then we are likely to set a new goal for ourselves… and once
again we will be “hiking with our eyes stuck to our boots and the rocky path”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We must allow ourselves to revel in the joy
of the journey…..to celebrate even small successes….. to enjoy the journey
itself as part and parcel of the entire package! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[image: view from Flattop mountain]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLstcwmrAn66WXgFcKWsCrK0kw690C9QTdsgv1yXb_-C4mePwnd0xkaxAUeTl3ezMiHBxESi5Vv1RFn_1mWcQLCvz1xKYvMa1ORDndcrfOUIi5_kkoJoIGElay3Dl7kHm5t-dw1mnm1U/s1600/Aug+23+FLATTOP+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLstcwmrAn66WXgFcKWsCrK0kw690C9QTdsgv1yXb_-C4mePwnd0xkaxAUeTl3ezMiHBxESi5Vv1RFn_1mWcQLCvz1xKYvMa1ORDndcrfOUIi5_kkoJoIGElay3Dl7kHm5t-dw1mnm1U/s320/Aug+23+FLATTOP+%25286%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> However, as a final note, let me add that
there is a flip side to all this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Last summer I managed to hike to two
places I had never been able to hike to as an adult: the summit of Flattop
mountain, and blue lake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
accomplished neither of these with wishful thinking. It took daily walks to
increase my stamina, and to acclimate a bit to the altitude. It involved
getting up well before dawn so that we could reach our goal and get below tree
line before the rains might arrive. It meant climbing Twin Sisters as a
preparatory hike, even though the trail there was rough in places due to a
washout. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yes, we need to enjoy the flowers on our way
to the summit of weight-loss and maintenance. But we also need to tread the
trail, even when doing that is a bit difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Set that alarm for an hour early so that you
can get a quick jog in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Buy that good windbreaker so that the rain
won’t stop you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Decide that you can celebrate Shabbat without gorging on sweets and nuts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do a slightly better strength training
than last week… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CHOOSE A
GOAL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MAKE IT FUN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BUT KEEP GOING
NO MATTER WHAT!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Please share something you
ENJOYED this week .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[image: wildflowers, with saying: "Your best moments are those you live in, not those you rush through."]</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD9MqdhuEl7o4CfdmX6FPhXMUB7QIaN1E7UlOncpFkiFA27ge8V3M4aofEBSxTwbwsmPP_TaYye-gFJUrSHdZPmPV_FJDGJceEOagYkQ4_7UHCV-zl0Fuj3sTek8uN5ts435COxNSq6I/s1600/dont+rush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD9MqdhuEl7o4CfdmX6FPhXMUB7QIaN1E7UlOncpFkiFA27ge8V3M4aofEBSxTwbwsmPP_TaYye-gFJUrSHdZPmPV_FJDGJceEOagYkQ4_7UHCV-zl0Fuj3sTek8uN5ts435COxNSq6I/s320/dont+rush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-44032490723551797462015-10-19T08:40:00.001+03:002015-10-19T08:40:41.700+03:00No Other Words: a Lynching Last night a foreign worker was mistaken for a terrorist and was basically lynched . I remember how in a previous terrorist attack a sephardic Jew was also killed when mistaken for a terrorist.<br />
<br />
And here comes the rub: quick reaction to terror is needed to prevent further casualties. Yet caution is needed to avoid mistakes.<br />
<br />
HOWEVER, the foreign worker who died yesterday was killed not just because of being shot, but due to the subsequent lynching. ONCE A TERRORIST has been unarmed, there can be no excuse for a lynching. We are allowed to defend ourselves, but we should never descend to the level of our enemies.Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-33759548233586754072015-10-15T15:39:00.002+03:002015-10-15T15:55:50.446+03:00The Simple Truth There is a lot of accusations flying around about the video showing the Arab youth bleeding while passer-by curse him. First, let it be clear that the youth is alive.<br />
I saw the video, and yes it appears at first glance to be shocking. HOWEVER let us look at the simple truth:<br />
<br />
Every culture has people who get excited and curse during conflict.Yes, there is someone cursing him. That someone is being kept away from the youth by the police.<br />
<br />
But the way our societies view these hotheads is VERY different:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e4C6EIzJEN7KtSbaLTij7SMBAJiL3LYuFhRN52m1C8BaoPR6rF-Q1hIep2Bv5limq-xLkG_bqyKFeqBOv7NkW0aMMXZLbKByPFEqbuJKVBf4Q1_Q3pPdhjM_HOpScVt7oOwFIfGqfAw/s1600/hotheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e4C6EIzJEN7KtSbaLTij7SMBAJiL3LYuFhRN52m1C8BaoPR6rF-Q1hIep2Bv5limq-xLkG_bqyKFeqBOv7NkW0aMMXZLbKByPFEqbuJKVBf4Q1_Q3pPdhjM_HOpScVt7oOwFIfGqfAw/s640/hotheads.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I would add that if a Jewish extremist were actively involved in a terror attack, and would not stop, he would also be shot by responding police or soldiers.<br />
<br />
And yes, the ambulance passed the Arab in the video. Does he really deserve to be treated BEFORE his victims?!???!???! Eventually he was taken to the hospital, where he receives the same care as any Jewish patient. (Although he IS handcuffed, so that he can not carry out any further attempts to hurt others.) [And he is in better condition than his victim..........]Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-61868343812061702052015-10-12T15:44:00.001+03:002015-10-12T21:18:26.915+03:00SHAME on NBC! I saw a post on the NBC news site today. While I am used to a lot of slanted reporting, I must say that NBC outdid themselves.<br />
<br />
Some samples:<br />
<br />
1)<br />
NBC: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;">So far, 23 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed. Around 20 Israelis and more than 500 Palestinians have been injured."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;">NO mention that the Israelis killed and injured were all hurt /killed as victims of terror attacks. Many were innocent civilians just minding their own business, NO mentiion that almost all the Arabs killed and injured were hurt/killed while they were either committing a terror attack or engaged in VIOLENT demonstrations, doing acts which can be lethal to others.. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;">2)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;">NBC: "</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 26.6667px;">On Thursday night a right-wing mob marched toward the Old City in East Jerusalem, many of them chanting "Death to Arabs" and with the stated intention of looking for Arabs to attack.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 26.6667px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
"They chant 'Death to Arabs' and nothing happens to them," says a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem who asked not to be named. "If I said 'Death to Jews' I would be killed."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 26.6667px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 26.6667px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
REALLY? The Arab clerics and media are full of incitement, urging arabs to kill Jews. In the few cases were Jews attacked Arabs, they were stopped by other Israelis, and these acts were roundly condemned by Netanyahu, and the IDF. (Israeli army). </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 26.6667px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.01rem; line-height: 26.6667px; margin-bottom: 1.125em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
3) The piece is full about Arabs being afraid to walk the streets. I guess we Jews are not afraid; we are used to to getting stabbed outside of the local shopping mall.<br />
<br />
<br />
Note: since I wrote this, the article has been changed a bit.and is a bit more balanced. RE the stabbing attack in Pisgat Zeevthe 13 year old victim is barely hanging on to life. He was BIKING home, and on the way stabbed 25 times!</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: ProximaNovaRegular, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.16px; line-height: 26.6667px;"><br /></span></span></span>
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-87675744174859448122015-10-08T14:06:00.000+03:002015-10-08T14:06:01.421+03:00On Terror, Life, and Prudence<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday (Wednesday)
a terrorist stabbed a man at the bus
stop (in Petach Tikva)next to a mall that I occasionally go to. Also buses in
Jaffa got stoned (I travel by bus on that street to go to Rina's grave, and
often I walk in Jaffa). (And as I write
this, I hear of another attack, noontime today (Thursday). A yeshiva student is
stabbed in Jerusalem. I pray that it is not my grandson. Or a friend of
his. Or the son of a friend of mine.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I always know
in theory that terror can happen anywhere, and that no one is guaranteed
immunity, the sheer number of attacks yesterday (and this week), along with the
proximity of the attack in Petach Tikva, drove home the gut-wrenching
realization of “There, but for the grace of G-d, goes I”. Just two days before I had called my
“ultra-Orthodox” son and daughter-in-law in Jerusalem, who do not listen to
radio news, to be sure that they aware of the escalating violence and
atmosphere. Luckily, the
word-of-mouth-news network works quite
well in their neighborhood, and they knew of the need to be extra vigilant when
outside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later on Wednesday,
my husband informed me that I need to be more careful when out “walking”. Knowing that any belittling of the danger
would only increase his anxiety, I agreed with him. But, realistically, I
thought to myself, I am much more likely to be hit by a SMS-messaging car
driver than to be killed by a terrorist. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, despite the
clear calculation just mentioned, I was much more alert on my walk to and from
the swimming pool last night. It was not
a disabling fear, but an extra awareness of my surroundings. “Why,” I wondered to myself, “am I apparently
more afraid of the miniscule risk of terror, than the possibility of a car
accident, or of having a heart attack in the pool, both of which are
statistically much more likely to occur?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The answer, I believe, is that with accidents
and health concerns, we feel that at least to a certain extent, that we can
take precautions. If we eat healthy,
exercise regularly, don’t text-and-drive, and cross the street carefully, we
have a fairly decent chance of reaching 80 or 90. With terror (whether in
Israel or elsewhere) we are much less in control. Yes, there are things we can
do as a country perhaps to decrease these incidents, but when a fanatical or
deranged individual goes on the rampage,
only chance, or by G-d’s grace, are we not among the victims. Realizing that vulnerability can
be quite unsettling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then today, a
friend sent me <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRWpSqQpPA">this link:</a> This is a Ted-Talk about a dance group of “senior citizens”
the “Hip Op-eration Crew”( and the philosophy behind it). The organizer was
asked (seriously!) “What if one of them dies (ie. dancing, or on the
plane)?” And the response of the
organizer (“Well, what if they did?”)was correct. After all, if we let fear of
dying stop us from living, what worth is living then?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, as countries
we need to work on security, mental health, and combat terrorism.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But as
individuals, in our private lives, the reaction can only be one:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MAKE TODAY COUNT. We don’t know-ever- how long we have to
remain on this globe. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_jVVs9x8iZeBzcCHyV2cjtOR49ywi7CV224WxuQdyc_mOT2MiIa_tj8a_bY52VknZVBwFNkmltyWetj4TFK4LsDjHuHeUu1CecwKJxvzzFiwfoWxE8hZ1IWmCYuu8Zt3lntI7bA321c/s1600/Make+today+Count.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_jVVs9x8iZeBzcCHyV2cjtOR49ywi7CV224WxuQdyc_mOT2MiIa_tj8a_bY52VknZVBwFNkmltyWetj4TFK4LsDjHuHeUu1CecwKJxvzzFiwfoWxE8hZ1IWmCYuu8Zt3lntI7bA321c/s320/Make+today+Count.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[As religious believers, we can try and “curry favor” with
G-d, by doing good deeds. These activities may perhaps affect things in a
spiritual sphere. But we should not kid ourselves that those deeds will
guarantee our safety. Sometimes G-d feels the best thing for us
is to experience suffering.] <o:p></o:p></div>
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Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-44649745927963578962015-10-02T08:31:00.001+03:002015-10-04T11:07:15.299+03:00The un-News<div class="MsoNormal">
Just out of
curiosity, I went to NBC’s news page to see what they would write about the
incident. Seeing nothing at all, I went to the “world” page. There it mentioned
the Palestinian flag having flown at the UN, but the story I was looking for
had not been mentioned.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can be SURE
that if an Israeli soldier had killed two Palestinians at point-blank range,
with no provocation, the news would have been explosive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the fact that a
young Jewish couple were gunned down and murdered in front of their 4 under-age ten children
last night is not news. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
May their families
be comforted. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rPq16LW5gQ/Vg4WVrMP3wI/AAAAAAAABCA/OzzHAgu_Bls/s1600/AAf0G11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rPq16LW5gQ/Vg4WVrMP3wI/AAAAAAAABCA/OzzHAgu_Bls/s320/AAf0G11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Photo: The murdered couple, Eitam and Neama Henkin<br />
<br />
Note and Update:<br />
I rechecked the NBC news page Saturday night (Israeli time). The video about the Palestinian flag at the UN is still up. The Henkins still don't matter it seems. And the murder today of two Israelis (and the critical wounding of another, and the attack on a baby) are apparently not news either. Now I know some will say "Not every murder gets told on NBC." But as I said before, you can be SURE that if Israelis were randomly killing Arabs, it would definitely "make the grade".....<br />
Further update: Is now on NBC site, and the headline is actually OK</div>
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-11496368326830236712015-10-01T11:27:00.001+03:002015-10-01T11:27:48.001+03:00G-d Save us From the Idiots<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I saw a
lovely video on facebook (see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StandWithUs/videos/10153236976642689/?fref=nf">HERE</a>), of an Israeli hula-hoop artist, Tal Fransky . She is <s>very</s>
extremely talented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What got me riled
up (enough to sit down at 10 AM to type this up) were the numerous people who
felt it absolutely imperative to note in the comments that the performer was on
the plus-size side. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tell me, do these
idiots really believe that the other viewers could not see this? Did they
imagine for a moment that the performer herself is not aware that she is overweight?!???
And of course, what the (*&^%^$#& does her weight have to do with her
wonderfully talented performance?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do people who make comments like this REALLY
think that by making these comments that they will increase the chances of ANYONE
losing weight?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shaming people does
not lead to weight loss. NO ONE who has lost a considerable amount of weight
has done so due to self-hate. Weight –loss
comes when you love yourself enough to stop overeating. It comes when you can
figure out what is causing you to over- eat (when you KNOW that it is not good
for you, but you do it anyway…), and finding other ways to deal with those “triggers”.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was extremely overweight for most of my
life. I knew I was, I wanted to change, but it took me MANY long years to
figure out HOW to do it! But all those years, my mother, while letting me know
that my weight was not healthy, did NOT bring it up constantly. (Although I
confess to giving my overweight kids a nudge every once in a blue moon, I bite
my tongue 95% of the time.) And she would certainly not have done this
publically, for example in a store while buying clothing. [Thanks, Mom!]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just yesterday I
saw a man who was our guest shaming his wife for her weight. I felt so terrible
for the lady, and wondered if he really thought that this was the way to effect
a change in her. (I finally told him
point blank why he was doing things wrongly. But I doubt that it will help.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And another point:
As this video shows quite aptly, weight need not be an impediment to exercise.
I weighed MUCH more than Ms. Fransky when I started my weight-loss journey. I
started with walks of 20-30 minutes. From there I gradually built up to an hour
or more daily. When hiking in the Rocky mountains, I took TONS of photos, using
those moments to catch my breath, and hoping that my mother would not notice HOW out of breath I
was! (On that first trip, nearly EVERYONE on the trail said “Good for you!” as they
passed me. I felt a bit like a circus elephant clambering up the trail.) SO if
you are overweight, try and find some exercise that you enjoy, whether it is walking, swimming, hula hooping, biking, dancing......because you will
be healthier and feel better for it (even if you don’t lose a gram!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And by the way,
hula-hooping is great exercise. It is excellent to do when watching a movie,
or inside on a broiling HOT or RAINY day.
All you need is a few meters of open space, and an adult-sized hoop. (It
should reach to about your waist). For example:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p8IZ29Z4bGwmLCXPkcZ9UOLz4vC4thyphenhyphenT0rTZJiczd5ljNURSq4Rd4dXHxF_PTg5T7j-g_YLjVhbFZjhLmfA5LsFdUytMyRXqld-WxyKmJkt65-vH1pVCERW1vwdeF-Vk2_eX5ekfWbY/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p8IZ29Z4bGwmLCXPkcZ9UOLz4vC4thyphenhyphenT0rTZJiczd5ljNURSq4Rd4dXHxF_PTg5T7j-g_YLjVhbFZjhLmfA5LsFdUytMyRXqld-WxyKmJkt65-vH1pVCERW1vwdeF-Vk2_eX5ekfWbY/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-2444835917151088902015-04-05T18:36:00.000+03:002015-04-05T18:38:18.303+03:002 Funerals<div class="MsoNormal">
The street corner by
our house was black, full for the second time in less than 24 hours, with men
dressed in black suits and hats,
returning from a funeral.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday evening
of course, the crowds were much more massive. Rav (Rabbi) Vozner had died, and
the Jewish world came to mourn his passing. Unfortunately, the funeral ended in
tragedy when someone was trampled to death in the pushing and shoving. This was
a mere two blocks from my house. This
afternoon the casualty was buried, and people apparently felt a need to say
with their presence at HIS funeral that “This should never have happened.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am sure that Rav Vozner would agree. Indeed, I am positive, as my son told me this story this
morning:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Several years ago,
on the eve of the Passover holiday, my son went to watch Rav Vozner (and other
Rabbis) drawing water to bake matzot with, at the city well near our house.
Suddenly there was a lot of shoving as people strived to get closer for a
better look. Rabbi Vozner stopped in his tracks, refusing to continue until the
pushing stopped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately, he was not able, at his funeral, to protest
the unruly behavior…..<o:p></o:p></div>
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-18256829798266299842015-03-10T00:24:00.000+02:002015-03-10T00:24:02.265+02:00The Doctor with the One Earing.....<div class="MsoNormal">
Years ago, I was at the ear doctor with Ricki. A rather eccentric fellow (he had a large
earing in one ear) He had been highly recommended to me as the “really good ear
doctor familiar with patients with Down syndrome”. And indeed he was very nice , and explained
things quite thoroughly… in short, very professional. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ricki was quite
young at that time-about 5 years old,
and had as-up-to-then-undiagnosed-ADHD in addition to her Down syndrome. And
Mr. Ear doctor shared office space with his gynecologist wife. In short, while
there Ricki managed, among other cute tricks, to spill some lubricating fluid
in an open container next to the gynocologist’s exam table ALL OVER the carpet.
I was embarrassed as could be, but the slightly
unconventional doctor waved his hand as if to say ”It’s OK”. I was still
mortified.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaving from his
office I<i> schlepped</i> (that’s Yiddish for “dragged myself”-remember, I was
still very overweight then) the three or four blocks to the main road, and then
several additional streets to the bus stop I needed. (I must have turned the
wrong way on the main road….). Then the bus took FOREVER to arrive. And all
this time, Ricki had been acting absolutely atrociously. I was tired, and
really in a black mood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, on the
bus, I sat down, and pulled out the letter the doctor had written. The first
line was the diagnosis: “cute little girl with Down syndrome”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That one line
reminded me what she REALLY was (“cute”), and made the remainder of the day SO
much better. I mentioned that to the doctor the next time I went and he was
flabbergasted…. He had never dreamt that this one sentence would have such an
impact on me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often we do not
realize the effects of our actions. Sometimes a small tiny action we do for
someone else can have a much larger effect than we could ever imagine. Those tiny little things we can do for
others, in a moment, can have lasting effects. We have all heard of people who
inspired others with a single act or a few words.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who has inspired
YOU, or effected you, with a kind action, or a wise sentence? Please share !!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-2547060558144394022015-02-11T20:13:00.001+02:002015-02-11T20:13:00.933+02:00Our Hidden Enemy: Perfectionism<div class="MsoNormal">
Very early on in
my weight-loss journey, I realized that one of my biggest “triggers” to
overeating was lack of sleep. And that the reason I didn’t get enough sleep was
because I had to “manage” to do “everything”. I had to be perfect. I tried to be perfect.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It just didn’t
work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I have seen
this tendency in many other women as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why in the world
do we push ourselves past the point of what sanity would dictate? And even if we can answer that question
(which I was able to do after a LOT of thought and reflection), to relearn that
feeling that I have to do it “all” is SO hard to beat! (Jewish sages say that
it takes 70 years of work to undo a bad habit, and quite frankly, I don’t have
seventy years! LOL). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think the key
is:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Practicing here and there
NOT being perfect<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Positive affirmations when
we are NOT able to do it all (Mine is: “G-d created you as an imperfect being.
My task is to grow/progress, not to be perfect.”)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="direction: ltr; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Learning to love ourselves
as we are<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="direction: ltr; margin-right: 0cm; unicode-bidi: embed;">
Are YOU a perfectionist? Can
you share an affirmation that helps you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I WOULD HAVE LIKED to add in here a cute photo, but it is almost time for me to leave for swimming....... So you will get this sans a picture; the post will be
imperfect, and that is OK!<o:p></o:p></div>
Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-11175498909798866702015-01-27T23:19:00.002+02:002015-01-27T23:21:27.337+02:00The Rio Tramway and Making a Plan!<div class="MsoNormal">
Jutting out of the
Atlantic ocean waters in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, are several large granite-like pillars. By far the most famous of them is “Sugarloaf mountain”.
Rising 396 meters (1,299 ft) above Guanabara Bay, on a peninsula that sticks
out into the Atlantic, Sugarloaf attracts some 2,500 visitors daily. From the
top of this granite pillar one sees an impressive panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[image: Panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro from Sugarloaf mountain.]</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8HWodzYMovzz7dXk1DXKrm5WCe3ipIaDHueZEjx8rD_XRD4tM7uzJZvtWy6mcvJjhG1lB1Pd4r4wyI402_npImtXJUXAIm7MBO7F5RxsrR6UtWRjdumUZoeyKwOQUykK4VRW5GUZz6U/s1600/Rio+day+1+sugarloaf+level+2+(72)panorama.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8HWodzYMovzz7dXk1DXKrm5WCe3ipIaDHueZEjx8rD_XRD4tM7uzJZvtWy6mcvJjhG1lB1Pd4r4wyI402_npImtXJUXAIm7MBO7F5RxsrR6UtWRjdumUZoeyKwOQUykK4VRW5GUZz6U/s1600/Rio+day+1+sugarloaf+level+2+(72)panorama.JPG" height="137" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I went to
Brazil in 2013, for a short one week visit, Sugarloaf was the first item on my
list of things which I wanted to see. I knew that the tramway had existed in
the50’s & 60’s; I remember seeing pictures of it when I was in grade
school. However, I was surprised when I learned just how long ago the original
tramway was built. In 1907, Brazilian engineer
Augusto Ferreira Ramos had the idea to build the cable car. The first
section was finished in 1912, and the second stretch in early 1913. And how
were the materials carried to the top? By hundreds of workers climbing the rock face, dragging
ropes, which were then used to haul up
heavier items. This Sugarloaf cable car
system was the first in Brazil and the third in the world, and it was longer
than the previous two. It was truly a technological feat in its time. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[image: Two of my sons (who are so different yet so similar to each other), horsing around in one of the original tram cars.]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Sklzv63_yU9U6L2wgSqUfcQhGnIUIhYyMoyrYgymmduo2K2LwzaLYNXFKbW9rZbdNNLEdkKrwYcvXSPPRcqtXw_SFFmWEPQB4IsNjRLR36gM5UTjLA_oParBJYZc54M8j-WPVRfMlc/s1600/Rio+day+1+sugarloaf+level+2+(105).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Sklzv63_yU9U6L2wgSqUfcQhGnIUIhYyMoyrYgymmduo2K2LwzaLYNXFKbW9rZbdNNLEdkKrwYcvXSPPRcqtXw_SFFmWEPQB4IsNjRLR36gM5UTjLA_oParBJYZc54M8j-WPVRfMlc/s1600/Rio+day+1+sugarloaf+level+2+(105).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now can you
imagine that Mr. Ramos built this structure without a plan? Surely not. He had
a plan, and he carried it out. Because
without a plan, things just don’t get done!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[image: Mountain scene with the caption: "A goal without a plan is just a wish."]</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often people who
are not overweight look at people who are, and wonder why we don’t just decide
to lose. What they do not realize is that deciding is not enough. We need a
plan. A plan to deal with all those little things that get in the way of weight
loss and maintenance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I had a
friend who told me how TERRIBLE she was; the day before she had overeaten. She
had rushed out to her job, forgetting to pack her nutritious lunch, and at
13:00 discovered that the only edibles around were some high calorie pastries,
so that is what she had eaten. Then as an afterthought, she added: “Today I
made SURE to pack my sandwich.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her inner voice
was telling her that she was terrible… and unsuccessful. But in actuality, she
had run into a problem… and developed a plan to correct it. To me that is
PROGRESS! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you train your
inner critic to note what you are doing RIGHT?</div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p>Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-37886895891653019032015-01-20T02:11:00.002+02:002015-01-20T02:11:22.865+02:00trip to Beit GuvreinThe area of Beit Guvrein, which is about halfway between Beit Shemesh and Hebron, is unique due to the many caves carved out by those living in the area. The limestone stone in the area has a hard upper crust (called "Naari"),. This harder stone gave support to allow the digging out of caves in the softer limestone beneath the Naari.<br />
<br />
The first several photos here are of a family burial cave , apparently of a Hellenized Edomite family. The original drawings had been vandalized, but luckily the first archaeologists there had made extensive drawings of the originals, and from those drawings these replicas were made.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xGQBY1WJ_aXJB04sI8wj9PYczO78isrOZ3w5VHn45ss-UHrvOSWfOvDYo34vemuHjm6B5R5iHRig2tlxlFlaBH2FFNueO2Ak6FhwF7jURrwQMMQdrqLPQGjA1OqPw7HDo-UslRHHv2k/s1600/DSC02692+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xGQBY1WJ_aXJB04sI8wj9PYczO78isrOZ3w5VHn45ss-UHrvOSWfOvDYo34vemuHjm6B5R5iHRig2tlxlFlaBH2FFNueO2Ak6FhwF7jURrwQMMQdrqLPQGjA1OqPw7HDo-UslRHHv2k/s1600/DSC02692+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVP4wQypKDMopovKhlaIQ8Q0c5zwmwQEnQf-iJ7LNiP73DAGclNjbhgNdXj9lhB_widklDzXMEc26lZg_H6xffSDFvD-ia1QK3hJy0B2P8lCD9-0ABdBYHYuMWG3dF3iVOk6h9nbTlfk/s1600/DSC02701+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVP4wQypKDMopovKhlaIQ8Q0c5zwmwQEnQf-iJ7LNiP73DAGclNjbhgNdXj9lhB_widklDzXMEc26lZg_H6xffSDFvD-ia1QK3hJy0B2P8lCD9-0ABdBYHYuMWG3dF3iVOk6h9nbTlfk/s1600/DSC02701+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUMFPqvYtC0VUtkPAJpnmrV4nWYQQbr9iSvAZ7C8SDoGdzIP209ySPgN8WXTH7UwcR_FyFWRhCBpVOCV-cq6OkXSyEe1vobA8JjVvWGr6hXJmu0POc9ppjzIX_gAOycQsQ6esfrYCiHE/s1600/DSC02702+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUMFPqvYtC0VUtkPAJpnmrV4nWYQQbr9iSvAZ7C8SDoGdzIP209ySPgN8WXTH7UwcR_FyFWRhCBpVOCV-cq6OkXSyEe1vobA8JjVvWGr6hXJmu0POc9ppjzIX_gAOycQsQ6esfrYCiHE/s1600/DSC02702+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM-pALLMX0SA3Z-3YMe-0vjc2KiE2FiDztmRyU3c1qS2wJOc4thVaPRl6ITRK1sfX541OsvVVCIlZhaB-UQ6C8ygJKgrf83hU0WSxMOn5eT0Gq0K8WFrurv4TrOaWZZBhGlU4NNjOe88/s1600/DSC02703+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM-pALLMX0SA3Z-3YMe-0vjc2KiE2FiDztmRyU3c1qS2wJOc4thVaPRl6ITRK1sfX541OsvVVCIlZhaB-UQ6C8ygJKgrf83hU0WSxMOn5eT0Gq0K8WFrurv4TrOaWZZBhGlU4NNjOe88/s1600/DSC02703+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next photo is of a small columbarium (dove-house), located under a house, essentially a small family fertilizer business.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw52MGu4UxoJolfmEKbrKwV8MooBlaLoNIn2IY6hNW5xVmb6JExAITDxFwP9E1xMsatq60ZC_ykkk9FlObSOMDYiCa31sKCO-r_6bEMNy-OhMuQ0DXOEwiiCT9oBkye7y8S_lOWTczjcc/s1600/DSC02724+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw52MGu4UxoJolfmEKbrKwV8MooBlaLoNIn2IY6hNW5xVmb6JExAITDxFwP9E1xMsatq60ZC_ykkk9FlObSOMDYiCa31sKCO-r_6bEMNy-OhMuQ0DXOEwiiCT9oBkye7y8S_lOWTczjcc/s1600/DSC02724+-+Copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1U9EK2-ZpZMD4NyQl5yRTB9y94dRzp0sE3F1zlL06ZZrl1WqMEd3mKCKJSKmnS7GqyCfV3e6GBfwHj4ZBBjgPoIsUOa1bPk7hmTBck_bxdS2N068BOyIAhH49do4MQhEs693KWzG_yU/s1600/DSC02732+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1U9EK2-ZpZMD4NyQl5yRTB9y94dRzp0sE3F1zlL06ZZrl1WqMEd3mKCKJSKmnS7GqyCfV3e6GBfwHj4ZBBjgPoIsUOa1bPk7hmTBck_bxdS2N068BOyIAhH49do4MQhEs693KWzG_yU/s1600/DSC02732+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>An oil press:</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Entrance to a water cistern located beneath a house.: </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh54_sNaUoPOoZ-LY7UacJibzxs5c1ZXETYaUw0Zfh4tWqT_CphvL3QhqHkWVTuliBQzaOm3rcn9o4oKAhvqNJuTX24UZ4OKjJK07MffnKGtsZ00Fbza9-eGP21JJav-LkU8vUu4bVTM/s1600/DSC02753+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh54_sNaUoPOoZ-LY7UacJibzxs5c1ZXETYaUw0Zfh4tWqT_CphvL3QhqHkWVTuliBQzaOm3rcn9o4oKAhvqNJuTX24UZ4OKjJK07MffnKGtsZ00Fbza9-eGP21JJav-LkU8vUu4bVTM/s1600/DSC02753+-+Copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LskjMVyNCpc-9kVTXk4O5r0unvNfBjFUvMr1A3wvsn3CfQ9-K_vOe-ohaGhakdpjdHr7PqpVJsy87puoXER-g_YcMhSMY2O-7_R4q5OgPVlwHCs3EJBeiPWHQcMQYEjAAQtYA3bMVhA/s1600/DSC02772+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LskjMVyNCpc-9kVTXk4O5r0unvNfBjFUvMr1A3wvsn3CfQ9-K_vOe-ohaGhakdpjdHr7PqpVJsy87puoXER-g_YcMhSMY2O-7_R4q5OgPVlwHCs3EJBeiPWHQcMQYEjAAQtYA3bMVhA/s1600/DSC02772+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>An enormous Columbarium:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAx6Z7TsZnAK17TM8LC02Aab8Z7gqZqdAV5cNu5rhWB7InMHxw379rFAW6XlB8O_77TJZglKLR6q0Knb5dSI8usaivy9jX_A5QLSC9OXXXwsHgN0aUGuXfXl9mgjam3k3gZ6VjV9G7HIM/s1600/DSC02786+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAx6Z7TsZnAK17TM8LC02Aab8Z7gqZqdAV5cNu5rhWB7InMHxw379rFAW6XlB8O_77TJZglKLR6q0Knb5dSI8usaivy9jX_A5QLSC9OXXXwsHgN0aUGuXfXl9mgjam3k3gZ6VjV9G7HIM/s1600/DSC02786+-+Copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The most famous site in Beit Guvrein are the Bell Caves. A small hole was made in the Naari sone above, and then the stone below was quarried out. These caves are from the late Byzantine/ Early Islamic periods.</div>
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The original entryway to the quarry:<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dBSjdltx6eA/VL2Yx_MDxcI/AAAAAAAAAzo/xAlHAuMT8hA/s1600/DSC02790%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dBSjdltx6eA/VL2Yx_MDxcI/AAAAAAAAAzo/xAlHAuMT8hA/s1600/DSC02790%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Rickismomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078192111057725026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186797796234731983.post-21468448795917873662015-01-07T02:04:00.000+02:002015-01-07T02:06:15.958+02:00Windy Day at the ocean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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