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Friday, March 30, 2012

Once In A While You Shown The Light

In the strangest places if you look at it right.  I have a touch of the blues, but when I heard Sublime's "Scarlet Begonias" this morning, my mood was lifted.  I wasn't a 90s garage band fan, but when Jerry's energy comes through with this tune how can things be bad?



I'm gonna be happy with the rings on my fingers and maybe I'll put some bells on my shoes, at least figuratively.  But not the rings.  They are real.  Love rocks are a girl's best friend, didn't you know?  And I will be happy to light Shabbat candles tonight and see the light in a very cozy place:  my home.  With my very own daughter Concealed Light.




Thursday, March 29, 2012

Love Your Children, Pay Attention to Them

That was the message of Eva Sandler last week, who lost her husband and two children in a recent terrorist attack in Toulouse, France.  May we only know happiness and joy going forward.  The irony of this blog post is that currently I am ignoring my children while they eat their supper to watch the media coverage from last week's funeral.

May the victims' memories be a blessing.





I know it isn't the Jewish tradition to play music or give flowers when a person dies, but I still can't help but think towards CSN.


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Rachel Dratch: Too Jewish For the Prairie

Check out this interview with Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler based on Rachel's new autobiography.  So glad I caught her in the late 90s at Upright Citizen's Brigade.

Check out this interview from a few years ago.   Note:  if I could have uploaded her famous Debbie Downer episode where the whole crew is at Disney and is simply laughing away, I would have.  I guess folks want to protect that Intellectual Property.  Is that you, Lorne?  Cuz Rob Reiner has done the same thing when it comes to YouTube videos of "This is Spinal Tap", and it really does a disservice to the bourgeois of the world!




Of course, I like her because she shares the same first name as me.
And spells it the same.

And has the same last name as one of my favorite Judaic studies teachers as a child, Rabbi Mark Dratch.  I learned Baba Metziah using Cabbage Patch Kids as the examples.

We Love You, Iran & Israel & More Rainbows On Earth

I like this...




The world needs more rainbows...


Orthodox and Single? Miami Plastic Surgeon Will Work Pro Bono!

This one spread like wildfire this week.  As if frum Jews have the time to think about this a week before Passover.

In response to Yitta Halberstam's article that single girls get plastic surgery to help land a husband, Dr. Michael Salzhauer has offered it for free to them in Miami.  One caveat:  you have to come recommended through your matchmaker or Rabbi.

Sounds pretty bezerk to me.  Gila Manolson offers her opinion, more eloquently written than mine, here.

Maybe instead of undergoing surgery, they could learn fashion tips from the Hot Chani's of the world (it goes without saying that a subscription to W and V are helpful if you can get past the rampant untznius images...but a personal stylist can't hurt, either).  A lot of people take offense to that term coined by Heshy Fried, but I think it's pretty funny.  Doubt that Gila would like it.  But I like Gila.  She was a teacher of mine a long time ago, and I don't mean to offend.

Personally, I could use some fashion advice.

Even though I am out of the shidduch market, I still like to look good.  And tie-dyes don't always fly.




Now, get back to cleaning!

From one queen (the Jewish woman, referenced above), to another (the witty parody of Freddy Mercury's tune, below)


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Jerusalem City of Gold: It Is For the Best

"Just nod if you can hear me"  -Pink Floyd

Click to 23:51 on the below video or even this link   for a 1994 Phish performance of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav.  Phish mavens really ate up that one in the 90s whenever they played this old school Israeli song written by Naomi Shemer.  Those days are over, but we can always listen and remember.  And think towards what could be in the future.




Thank you to Phish.net for debuting this video this week.  Quite an intricate jam, though I don't expect most of you to listen to the whole thing.

As far as I know, Phish has never played a show in Israel.  I think they should.

This child might be grown, but the dream is never gone.




"If you will it, it is no dream."  -Theodor Herzl

I try to maintain optimism, but if a show in Israel never happens, I will keep in mind the following:

"When a person knows that everything that happens to him is for the best, this is a taste of the world to come."  -R' Nachman of Breslov

Monday, March 26, 2012

Love Rocks Are A Girl's Best Friend

Spring is in the air, and you know what that means.  Weddings and engagements.  Browsing for rings in Tiffany, a la Holly Golightly, is usually in order.  But savvy consumers go straight to 47th street for the purchase.  In my world, no matter the size of the stone you are looking for, you go to someone via referral through friends or family.  Usually that someone is a man.  Miss Marmelstein, why pay retail when I Can Get It For You Wholesale?  Unfortunately, speaking from personal experience, the boys-club vibe that thrives among the diamond dealers isn't always welcoming to women.

Enter Limor Senker of Love Rocks New York.

Let me disclose that Limor is a family friend.  Since I know her personally, I know that her professional manner is genuine.  Limor's Love Rocks is a line of fine contemporary jewelry that has received great press - from People to WWD to Glamour.  She uses ethically-sourced pave diamonds and embeds them in 14K gold and platinum to make earrings, bracelets, and more.

If diamonds are a girl's best friend, wouldn't you want your friend to design your jewelry?




Limor has vast experience in the diamond business.  She also custom-designs diamond jewelry:  no more dark-paneled offices with middle-aged men who think they know better than the little miss.  Limor's understanding of style and design, coupled with her personal demeanor make you feel like you're chatting with a friend who also happens to be a diamond jewelry designer.

Recently, Limor and I worked together to customize an anniversary band.  I couldn't be happier with my ring.  She was so accessible during the whole process.  It was lots of fun, too!  Limor uses computer technology to create a rendering of the piece, so nothing is created without full satisfaction or left up to the imagination.  Before she makes the jewelry, you see exactly what it will look like.  How great is that!

Not a New Yorker?  No need to worry.  She will talk with you over the phone, email, Skype, gchat or Facebook.  All packages she sends are fully insured.  Best of all, she works with all budgets.  Working with Limor is such a pleasure, and I urge you to give her a call if you're in the market.  If it's your fiance who is taking care of things, tell him you will be happy that he called Limor.

Love Rocks NY
646.415.8770
info@loverocksny.com

And to think, I had no cultural context for "Material Girl" when it came out in 1985.