tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85245878679264795042011-08-01T17:47:08.195-04:00La Poutine CachereA transplanted Canadian deals with life in Jewish BrooklynLa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.comBlogger3911100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-42711713999912414632010-07-18T18:10:00.000-04:002010-07-18T18:11:48.136-04:00Reminders of Jewish MoralityI encountered two incidents in the last week that drove home how many commandments in the Torah protect us from emulating the moral shortcomings of other nations.First, I was walking down the Avenue, and kept finding myself in shops that a particular non-Jewish woman was also frequenting. I happened to notice her because aside from her loud attire, she was yelling into the phone. As we went up La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-23630563857670130642010-06-25T18:47:00.000-04:002010-06-26T23:51:38.512-04:00The Antidote to Anti-SemitismA quick note on Parshah Balak, in honour of the bar mitzvah of my friend's eldest son (Mazal Tov!).In Parshah Balak, we read how the King of Moav (Balak) summons the national prophet Bilaam to curse Bnai Yisroel. The Parshah then ends with the recounting of the episode involving Zimri and Cozbi.The question that comes immediately to mind is why Balak summoned Bilaam at all. The Moavim knew that La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-17765162479458658752010-06-22T19:16:00.004-04:002010-06-22T19:33:33.930-04:00A Long Time ComingSince I have become more lenient recently in my frumkeit, I felt it was high time to write a post on the circumstances that lead to my frying out.As I have highlighted in previous posts ad nauseum, I grew up extremely modern. We kept everything, but I wore t-shirts and jeans, and attended Hebrew school several times a week in tandem to going through public school. We belonged to a Modern La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-47962314535131743622010-06-21T18:44:00.000-04:002010-06-22T18:56:06.666-04:00A Note on My Local LibrarySo yes, the BPL is planning on closing several branches and reducing hours across the board. Perhaps my experience with my local branch yesterday demonstrates why. It's called lack of customer service.First, for some unfathomable reason, my new branch does call my home phone, as specified under my account preferences to indicate that my holds are ready. However, their automated system fails to La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-55840511039958370012010-06-15T19:31:00.003-04:002010-06-15T19:37:46.804-04:00To Tell or Not To TellAs could be expected from residing in Brooklyn, my "new" place poses its share of neighbourly challenges. There is the schizo cat collector downstairs, the dysfunctional Israelis behind, and my upstairs neighbour. It is the last party who inspired this post.The stated woman is the epitome of petite: she stands perhaps 5 ft tall, possesses a tiny frame, and has delicate features. What accentuates La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-14305377861301468882010-06-14T19:55:00.002-04:002010-06-14T20:04:26.984-04:00What's a Girl to Do?I once informed someone who was contemplating divorce: "You have no idea what divorce does to you spiritually". In short, contemplate staying married, because the spiritual ramifications of divorce are quite dire.What I was referring to in that long-ago conversation is how,post-divorce, you typically get to a point within the first year where your tayvahs come to the fore. Indeed, it happens in La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-55675490415574565672010-06-09T11:03:00.003-04:002010-06-09T20:38:14.815-04:00"I'm a Mommy First"On my way to work today, I witnessed a familiar scene: two mommies on their porch steps, adorned in tichel and tights and their favourite accessory- their children. As I walked by, their conversation was utterly predictable, namely what time little Shmueli went to bed last night and what time he woke up this morning. I was mentally thankful that I had missed the required discussion of his bowel La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-77968208917926568742010-06-06T11:53:00.004-04:002010-06-09T20:14:39.774-04:00I'm Becoming DumbBetween my mind-numbing new job and my lack of time to read, my spelling has deterioriated. Lately I actually have to pause and contemplate the potential spelling of certain words. Sure, I inevitably remember, but still.I would qualify this as an intellectual emergency, no? Time to start refreshing the old noggin' with some of those library books, methinks!La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-75293627489747706452010-06-06T11:30:00.004-04:002010-06-06T11:46:31.487-04:00Bring on the Ts!Yesterday I had the pleasure of eating Shabbos lunch with a family whose acquaintance I made recently. They are a fave of mine already due to their refreshing take on Brooklyn frumkeit, i.e. we concur on the topic. :)After lunch, the hostess and I retired to the couch in order to talk away the afternoon, as has become our custom. She then reminded me of a tznius point that I had long forgotten, La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-17381280827035395092010-06-03T21:44:00.003-04:002010-06-03T21:55:22.162-04:00The LookYesterday during my train ride home from Manhattan, a guy stared at me for a good part of the trip. He was, naturally, a goy and I was, to be fair, all dolled up in a suit and makeup. Still, it got me thinking...When I first moved to Brooklyn, I noticed two related, yet equally perplexing inter-gender phenomena/rituals: As a woman walking down the street, if IWished a male "Good Shabbos", he La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-11244727340070395622010-05-31T23:36:00.003-04:002010-06-03T21:56:15.954-04:00Hi Ho, Hi Ho...I will admit it- I was quite resentful that I had to work Memorial Day. Granted, my mind told me that I was being unreasonable. If you factor in my getting all the chagim and Chol HaMoed off, then that more than compensates for my working all legal holidays.Of course, understanding that I needed a mental adjustment didn't make it any easier to drag myself to work today; I was literally the only La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-14333470585141312052010-05-26T22:06:00.002-04:002010-05-26T22:13:09.669-04:00The BoyAbout a month ago, I had a 3 minute conversation with "A Boy" recommended by the Yeshivah Rav (see A Tall Order). He seemed like a nice enough sort, but really just rang to decide how we would communicate. Since it had taken him a week after the Rav gave him my number and our schedules seem mutually exclusive, we hit upon emailing for the time being.So we exchanged a "breaking the ice" email, andLa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-3957353741515203192010-05-18T18:55:00.003-04:002010-05-26T22:06:05.254-04:00OyI went to the doctor recently, and he diagnosed me with a few syndromes. After all that I've been through medically the last few years, believe you me, I was thrilled to locate a doctor who gave me an actual diagnosis; instead, most doctors I've seen related to my current issues have told me it's "all in my head" - versus simply acknowledging that they don't understand what's going on with me (La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-76243177527041005782010-05-09T19:18:00.003-04:002010-05-09T21:37:55.341-04:00Count with MeI am now notorious.I went shopping at my local pharmacy and the cashier that checked out my items said "I know you" with a laugh. Well, I remember her as well. :)A few weeks ago, I shopped at the said pharmacy with a rain cheque. Actually, since the given shop almost always runs out of sale items by the time I go shopping on Sunday, I typically have rain cheques when they ring up my La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-36221821384742227762010-05-04T19:32:00.004-04:002010-05-09T22:00:49.635-04:00Laugh Too MuchA tidbit from my weekly shopping expedition.I was in the pet shop, getting tchatchkis for Ms. Furry Furball. As I was waiting for the cashier to ring up my purchases, there was a boy playing with a dog toy. The toy emitted an obscene and annoying sound, as the boy squeezed the toy at least a dozen times.Since the sound was so bizarre, I kept laughing. And while the cashier rang up my purchases, La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-41870217863259015212010-04-26T20:58:00.004-04:002010-05-09T21:18:34.864-04:00Resumes and What NotIt would seem that more than on Rav at the yeshiva is involved with shidduchim. In fact, during his last stay in America, none other than the top poo-bah spent several hours of his (and my) time contacting one donor whose children are "in shidduchim".One email that was involved in this mission included on those "resumes" that I had kept hearing about the last 4 years. A question that had always La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-81690127254768865002010-04-22T23:11:00.000-04:002010-04-22T23:24:48.469-04:00Cool RavSince I moved to Brooklyn, no matter which shul I attended, I stuck with one Rav in particular for my numerous shailahs.One of the reasons why I like the given Rav so much is that, for a Gadol, he has an excellent sense of humour. More to the point, he's a straight shooter; if what you're asking is a problem, he'll just tell you. And, while he's doing so, he'll even give you a very brief La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-40571573430191722402010-04-20T19:11:00.000-04:002010-04-20T23:13:39.164-04:00Plugged InNow that I'm working in a yeshivah, I feel like I'm plugged into the yeshivish community. More to the point, the community is suddenly incredibly accepting of me. Because whereas previously, when asked "What do you do?", people were befuddled by my response; they became perplexed because my unusual job prevented them from easily categorizing me.Now, because people know the yeshivah and recognize La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-86918142474913238852010-04-19T22:03:00.002-04:002010-04-20T23:10:43.486-04:00No Slits! Bare Calves!Since my recent move, I found myself making the acquaintance of several new families, B'H'. And while I certainly love ad infinitum my existing roster of friends, I have been feeling the need to be more sociable and expand my social network. You know- become known in my new neighbourhood.So there I found myself the last days of Pesach at yet another new family and was being my usual chatterbox La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-33023797176114472362010-04-19T21:55:00.003-04:002010-04-27T22:48:53.158-04:00A Tall OrderOne of the "features" of my latest job is that I interact with all Rebbeim. Sure, they're all old-school, and their mental frame of reference causes them to refer to me as "the new secretary". I mean, what else would a woman in a yeshiva be, right? Yet they are for the most part all good-intentioned, pleasant individuals.Alas, one Rabbi informed me almost immediately after my arrival that he doesLa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-58333773090386340432010-04-18T14:52:00.005-04:002010-04-20T23:03:06.862-04:00Ankle Socks (And Less)Growing up, as I've mentioned previously, I was modern: I went to public school, wore pants, and spoke to guys. Not that I wasn't frum, mind you. I just wasn't *extremely* frum.Over Pesach I was at a friend's house when a mutual friend showed up with her kids for some playtime. The said mutual friend was sporting sneakers, ankle socks, and zeh hu. Did that even remotely register with me? Only forLa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-68444708401115881542010-04-15T23:02:00.004-04:002010-04-15T23:22:03.206-04:00B'H' and Bli Ayin Hara!So, in case you hadn't noticed, I haven't really been posting the last several months. For those of you who I've become friendly with online, you know the gory details. For random readers, let's just say that I was going through some major, uhm, life changes. Divorce, job search, apartment move. It's been interesting. I'll start with the highlights since my post all the way back in late La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-73856172923218621492009-11-20T00:05:00.001-05:002009-11-20T00:07:14.604-05:00Feist-ishPlumb sounds like a sanitized version of Feist to me. Yet I find this song oddly pleasing, sort of like Lush's early albums.La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-57749696857623616382009-11-19T18:40:00.002-05:002009-11-19T18:50:19.262-05:00Why don't I just address it to Saudi Sheik?Today, I had the joy of receiving my gas bill.As mentioned in previous posts, I tend to be rather conservative with my energy use due to growing up in Canada. So I was very surprised to see my bill jump by quite a few dollars this month. Upon inspection of my bill, I became aware of certain details.First, the several dollars difference over last month was due to my having used just 1 more therm. La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-70410449959183032052009-11-18T12:54:00.002-05:002009-11-18T13:01:38.545-05:00Crossroads?The past several weeks, I've been chomping at the bit to leave New York. Let's be blunt: I'm just plain not cut out for New York, and not in the way I would've expected. The brief version of the story is that my move to New York hasn't been particularly fruitful to date. Sure, I found work and got remarried. We all know how those endeavours worked out. And as I ponder the dating pool (i.e. La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-47415204201098848472009-11-15T20:37:00.004-05:002009-11-15T20:51:31.836-05:00Run Baby!As you can tell by my recent tweets, I started up running again this past week. Today I made my third run, and this time I decided to up the time to 30 minutes. It's a good thing.Anyhow, sometimes people are surprised to learn that I used to be very hardcore about running. I mean, I wasn't fanatical, along the lines of those who do the NY marathon, for example. But I was dedicated and ran La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-29539422533421874502009-11-15T19:50:00.003-05:002009-11-15T20:10:43.136-05:00Resurrected!Thanks to SW for her comment. It was timely indeed: this layl Shabbos, I ran into a fan, who lamented the demise of this blog.Basically, I had made the decision to kill this blog, but didn't really advertise the fact. Since I wanted to keep the blog up as a reminder of a period in my life, not to mention in case I felt the need to review one of my divrei Torahs, I figured I would leave the blog La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-80835188396511848972009-11-11T21:53:00.001-05:002009-11-15T20:30:20.557-05:00Remembrance DayNo poppy pin. But B'H' that I live in this day and age: I just had to go onto YouTube, and already people throughout Canada have posted video of Canadian memorial ceremonies.AWESOME.If you haven't already, there's still time to pause to commemorate all those who sacrificed during wartime for our benefit. We live in freedom due to their efforts, B'H' and bli ayin hara.La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-35537305300398402992009-11-09T11:05:00.002-05:002009-11-15T20:27:36.648-05:00Poppy Pin (Cont)For those of you who are unfamiliar with my reference to observing Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth, Wikipedia happens to have an excellent article on the topic.Last week I was telling my friend back in Canada that I must really be homesick, because I have yet to get to the Canadian Consulate to buy a poppy pin. And I actually started crying over the fact. You could practically hear her roll La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-24987756355213802862009-10-31T22:03:00.001-04:002009-11-16T14:04:43.574-05:00Fled the CountryLast Thursday morning, I heard a knock on my door. It was someone looking for my landlord. Since I didn't know who it was, and I don't like making problems for people, I told the gentleman that my landlord didn't live in the building anymore. When he asked how long ago my landlord left, I decided that being vague was the best route to take. After all, how am I to know who this guy was? So I told La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-39097628384119360182009-10-27T15:12:00.003-04:002009-11-15T20:15:22.550-05:00SearchingI have been trying to track down a poppy pin this past week. In Canada, you see, Canadians really put their heart and soul into commemorating those who sacrificed during all wars, and from now until November 11, they wear a poppy pin on their left lapel.I hadn't seen such a pin since I came to the States, so I just assumed that such pins weren't available. After all, the tradition is pretty a La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-79481925244434026362009-10-24T23:21:00.000-04:002009-11-15T20:32:45.619-05:00Neighbour, NeighbourI was vacuuming my floors yesterday afternoon when there was knock on my door. It was my downstairs neighbour.She started off by the conversation by saying "That's why I would never knock (referring to my pre-Rosh Hashanah policy of tapping on the floor when her son was making a racket). This is making a lot of noise; my ceiling is shaking". Interestingly enough, she seemed a bit taken aback by La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-23133094712100774172009-10-19T19:07:00.002-04:002009-10-19T19:10:25.517-04:00Missed Photo OpsFriday afternoon, I look out the window onto the backyard and witness a glorious sight. There, curled up all warm and snug on the foam square closest to the playgroup's door, was Big Tabby Cat. It was almost as if he was challenging them, like "What're you going to do NOW?". I was busy cleaning for Shabbos though, and neglected to secure a photo.Then Shabbos morning I peered out the window to La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-58320196969407170452009-10-15T20:44:00.001-04:002009-10-15T20:46:30.586-04:00My New Favourite Day of the YearAfter my phone interview this morning, I dashed to Manhattan to jump through hoops for an employment agency (I'm not a fan of having to drag myself into the city for a 10 minute face-to-face in order to be submitted for a position).That's where the day took a nice nose dive. First, the recruiter had neglected to give me precise directions to her building. Instead, when I arrived at the noted La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-70719378526699675322009-10-14T16:07:00.008-04:002009-10-14T16:16:57.595-04:00Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...This afternoon, surprised that it was the allotted hour and the playgroup/pre-school wasn't yet outside (ok, I'll admit it- I was hopeful), I took a look-sey out the window.You'll recall that the invasion of the playgroup in June caused the resident outdoor cats to set up shop elsewhere. Imagine my amusement when I peered out just now and saw a Big Cat sitting smack dab in the middle of the foam La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-41908734659951718302009-10-12T18:10:00.002-04:002009-10-12T18:18:48.336-04:00The Beat Goes On...Over Yom Tov, while I was kept up way late by Downstairs Boy (i.e., 1:30 AM and 3 AM, respectively), Front Neighbour and her crew seemed to have vacated the premises for the last days. Phew.Then, as I was walking down the block Shabbos, I saw Block Yenta. She informed me that our landlord had told FN that either she shapes up or ships out. BY seemed to be of the impression that the current La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-63838335641003177742009-10-08T22:55:00.003-04:002009-10-08T23:07:45.396-04:00Where Do I Join?In America, you basically have two viable political parties. If you're conservative, you typically vote Republican and if you're more to the left, you vote Democrat.Having grown up in a country with at least 7 viable parties and most elections resulting in a minority government, I tended to vote for parties that were more to the centre of the political spectrum. That said, I am currently loving La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-12944165538520469802009-10-08T01:42:00.002-04:002009-10-08T01:46:58.410-04:00Blast It, Bother, PhooeyMy doctor's visit this evening was a total waste of time. The doctor (who came highly recommended) refused to give me any information until he runs x-rays/tests. And wouldn't you know it- they had just run out of the x-ray film he needed to do the x-rays right before my appointment.So my schlepp out to BP only netted me the debiting of my co-pay from my bank account and several scripts. I even La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-62709886301096676452009-10-07T23:01:00.002-04:002009-10-07T23:14:07.482-04:00B9 Me!This evening I took my very first trip on the Brooklyn bus. EVER. I will of course remind everyone that until the car accident, I had a car. And after the accident, I've limited my use of the MTA to commuting work/interviews, aka going to Manhattan. Local shopping I do on foot. In short, why would I take the bus?But tonight I had a doctor's appointment in Boro Park, so the bus it was. I will La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-72345990921996339292009-10-04T00:53:00.002-04:002009-10-07T23:00:04.842-04:00On The First Day of Sukkot, Hashem Gave to Me...The first days were quite eventful. Unfortunately, no communal sukkah was erected (although Front Neighbour Girl invited me to stop by whenever. More on that later.); instead there's a little colony of sukkahs on the property. Imagine one sukkah filled with Israelis, then multiply it. That, my friends, should tip you off to the tenor that my chag has taken thus far.All the meals I ate out were La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-76901955519599437672009-10-01T10:04:00.003-04:002009-10-01T10:11:13.700-04:00Where's the Heat?Can someone refresh my memory regarding the heat by-law? Is it when the temperature is below 50 F at night and/or after October 15 that the landlord must provide heat?All I know is that it's dang freezing in my sad little abode. (And please refrain from the "But you're Canadian" comments!) Back in my fair land (and it is beautiful folks, I should post some pics...), landlords get serious La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-45549411130232678122009-09-29T16:25:00.003-04:002009-09-29T16:52:57.011-04:00Talk About InappropriateNote: The following post is not about my situation with my landlord or living condition. Everyone has already chimed in ad nauseum regarding that situation, and I admit that I will need to move in the near future, aka when I am able to start repacking, etc. Therefore, please keep any comments to the noted conversation.Last Friday, after listening to my fridge making very sad sounds, I called my La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-29786930773255747892009-09-25T15:04:00.002-04:002009-09-25T15:07:25.008-04:00Just a Thursday in BrooklynToday was an interesting day, Brooklyn-wise.In the morning, my davening was tested by a motorist who decided he would lean on his horn- for full 2 minutes. Like, HELLO, this is a mixed-zone neighbourhood. Some of us actually live here, and are trying to conduct our lives in peace. As for the rest of the yahoos who conducted the routine honking, I've said enough on them for a lifetime, so I'll La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-79971710439477720612009-09-20T23:45:00.003-04:002009-09-21T00:03:17.037-04:00Highlights from R'H'A few moments worth noting from the last couple of days:Had a tender reunion with the elderly Holocaust survivor I had the pleasure of sitting next to last year (see A Rare Honour). I was thrilled to see her. As for why her face lit up to see me... :) Anyhow, over the two days, similar to last year, her tefillah bolstered and inspired me.Fought the urge to cry Day 1 as it was Shabbos. I managed La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-76430483553479494452009-09-14T22:14:00.002-04:002009-09-14T22:21:07.564-04:00JackpotEvery once in a while, Hashem throws you an undeserved treat.This past Friday afternoon, I did a bit of shopping online. I picked the standard shipping option, and looked forward to receiving my new long-sleeve t-shirts (in very pretty colours) just in time for Rosh Hashana. Well, this morning, at 10 AM, my doorbell rang and the happy UPS man delivered the said t-shirts into my delighted little La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-12655196874447187702009-09-13T19:27:00.006-04:002009-09-13T19:43:10.107-04:00The Smells of Rosh HashanaThis morning I had an early morning appointment. Yes, very bad planning on my part, given that I was up until 4 AM due to Selichos.But in the end my Shabbos nap proved restorative enough, and I found myself full of energy as I bounded about Flatbush, running my miscellaneous errands. It didn't hurt that it was absolutely perfect weather- or that my purse was stocked with a nice baggie full of La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-19040906425759292232009-09-10T17:50:00.005-04:002009-09-10T18:03:14.119-04:00Breslov LoveEarlier this week, I found myself on Avenue J. As I was returning home, I saw a Breslover Chassid carrying his books, and tried to get his attention so that I could give him tzeddakah. But wouldn't you know it? I guess wearing colour AND a jean skirt screamed "untznius" to him, because he literally turned the opposite way and walked away from me. Strangely I wasn't offended, only disappointed La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-22734382419709859462009-09-10T17:26:00.003-04:002009-09-10T17:49:20.435-04:00A Tree Falls in BrooklynSince the playgroup has morphed into a school as of Tuesday, I decided yesterday to have a conversation with Basement Lady. Basically, I asked her to provide me a time frame for when the children would be outside; I figure this way we all have a schedule and can amicably work around each other. She told me a one-hour slot, and although the time was probably the worst hour of the entire workday La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-27006048456946225102009-09-09T18:12:00.004-04:002009-09-09T18:20:36.579-04:00Random ThoughtsA few thoughts that have been rolling around in the old noggin this week, courtesy of the influx of people returning after the summer.Honking: Why, if they see that the roadway is completely blocked so that no cars can negotiate moving, do drivers insist on leaning on the horn? How about a smidgen of patience people? Since last Thursday, the symphony of honking has been a non-stop, all-day/night La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-16487103761306060972009-09-07T23:33:00.004-04:002009-09-07T23:40:55.801-04:00YeeshSo I celebrated my birthday recently. And yes, I did in fact celebrate versus do my typical hermit routine, because my friends surprised me with a mini-party layl Shabbos. Thoughtful of them, eh? Anyhow, when did I feel old? On my birthday? Nope. As people sang "How old are you now"? Nope.Instead, yours truly clued into how old I am (read: penultimate to a milestone) when I listened to this song La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-81131665445330291952009-09-06T23:24:00.021-04:002009-09-07T01:14:01.528-04:00Ah, MemoriesBack when I was, ahem, off the derech, my musical tastes ran the gamut. But I have always had a soft spot for techno, specifically trance. To quote my friend H, techno is happy music. And in my mind, techno was to the '90s what the love-in was to the '60s. How can you resist all that peace and love?Pre-Shabbos, I happened to be in techno mode, and played a few of my fave tracks. It was kind of a La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-38852108131027416762009-09-01T20:56:00.002-04:002009-09-01T21:07:16.537-04:00Can't I Just Be Frum?I heard recently that one of the latest questions that shadchanim ask a girl is whether she sleeps in a nightgown or pyjamas. Supposedly nowadays, as opposed to when I was growing up, the thought is that pyjamas are actually more tznius- despite consisting of pants. Perhaps they mean does the girl wear pyjama bottoms under the nightgown? All I know is my Mom had me sleeping in a nightgown at a La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-51211782526582627212009-08-27T23:24:00.002-04:002009-08-27T23:29:11.445-04:00You Know It's Elul When...I've noticed that since Rosh Chodesh, the yetzer hara is a lot stronger. Case in point, this evening while I was out shopping, I was much closer to the edge while making my rounds. The yetzer hara wants you now, while you're trying to start making amends for your aveirahs, chasve shalom, of the past year, to FAIL. It wants you to keep adding to the Going to Gehinnom column, chasve shalom, as La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-9426269449330332602009-08-26T00:36:00.003-04:002009-08-27T23:24:15.327-04:00Tweeting is Killing My Blog!I should have know it would be my latest obsession. I am utterly hooked on Twitter. And it's not just the convenience of having exactly the sound bites you want all together in a central location. No, the clincher is that I LOVE streamlining my thoughts into 140 character snippets. Maybe it's the Yekki/Virgo/techie in me, but gosh, it makes me feel so zen.The upshot though is that I've started La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-10369399921191685402009-08-23T20:46:00.002-04:002009-08-23T20:52:10.245-04:00My Birthday WishSince supposedly I am closer to Hashem today (it's now officially 4 Elul), I figure it would only be appropriate if I ask Hashem for a little help and guidance.First Hashem, please bring Mosiach immediately. It would be lovely to exist in a world where morality, peace, and perfect health existed for all.Second, please let this year be the year when I truly begin to make progress on all my La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-37661717948420009832009-08-23T15:03:00.004-04:002009-08-23T15:24:38.557-04:00Duped AgainI got referred to a family for Shabbos lunch, and it turned out to be yet another "singles" affair, complete with two dozen or so older singles. GRRR.To be fair, the hostess was a wonderful, warm lady, as evidenced by the fact that when I first arrived and went to the kitchen to introduce myself, the other ladies were all in there too. I find that such grouping tends to only occur when the La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-4991434846829146532009-08-23T12:01:00.005-04:002009-08-23T13:47:29.682-04:00Virgo!In honour of my birthday tomorrow (penultimate to a milestone!), I'm posting a few facts about Virgos. While I certainly don't hold by daily horoscopes or anything of that nature, I do find that the personality descriptions of each sign are typically pretty accurate. I consequently interpret this accuracy as yet another instance of the wonderful structure that Hashem used when creating the La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-28995123348153810842009-08-19T15:24:00.003-04:002009-08-19T20:35:29.080-04:00Baking ChallahLast night I checked the freezer to see how many challahs I have left. Since I was down to one, today was challah day.One good thing (okay, maybe the only good thing) about the current heat wave is that your dough sure does rise quickly under such conditions. The first rise happened in 20 minutes, and the subsequent two in 10. In short, the heat and humidity made for some very fluffy water La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-85208270912621459542009-08-18T22:24:00.003-04:002009-08-18T22:36:56.167-04:00Evacuate Now!You've all heard me complain about the water bugs that saunter into my apartment through the front door, courtesy of the front apartment. Yesterday I made a grotesque discovery. There, in the middle of the afternoon, were 5 gigantic water bugs hanging out in my floor-level, pareve cabinet in the kitchen (aka the cabinet by the stove, where I've seen their friends).That, my friends, was the very La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-4766687822352996912009-08-16T20:56:00.006-04:002009-08-17T21:46:59.730-04:00Lost SheepI was at ShopRite yesterday as the last leg on my weekly shopping trip along MacDonald Ave. My backpack was already quite full, as I had hit King Tomato, but I figured I would just have to keep myself in check while perusing the ShopRite aisles. Not that the prices of the non-sale items doesn't help with that, but anyway.I thought I would take solid measures to ensure that I wasn't slogging 20 La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-77514797379820295962009-08-16T15:33:00.002-04:002009-08-16T22:03:45.569-04:00Right to Set Their Own RulesOver Shabbos, the conversation turned to some new tznius guidelines implemented in the Satmar community. The items specifically discussed included the decision to ban both shells and "the layered look".The irony about the latter item was that just this past week I caved, and bought a very sweet, folky t-shirt to wear over my long-sleeve t-shirts. So as I sat there at the table, it was dressed forLa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-49357284419683487222009-08-14T12:44:00.002-04:002009-08-14T12:51:19.823-04:00Happy DiscoveryAs you are all well aware, I adore dark chocolate. My pantry is eternally stocked with baking cocoa for truffles, and I scoop up Cadbury's Royal Dark whenever it's on sale. Given my typical stress level these days, I consider it medicine.I've been suffering through a bout of gastronomic discord for the past week (B'H' for the car accident), and feeling utterly lousy. I've tried fruit and ginger La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-73204067609828488942009-08-14T02:11:00.002-04:002009-08-14T02:32:01.553-04:00Seven Things I Love MemeA while back I was tagged by Moshe in the "Seven Things I Love" meme. Moshe, you'll excuse me, but I won't be tagging 7 bloggers BECAUSE YOU STOLE HALF MY LIST. ;)My mom. DUH.Animals/birds. Fascinating.My first cup of coffee in the morning on Shabbos.My Schottenstein Interlinear Tehillim.Benchlicht.My friends (I'm B'H', bli ayin hara, so very blessed.)The internet. So I can keep in touch with #6,La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-54920918382739373332009-08-13T22:32:00.002-04:002009-08-13T22:44:49.868-04:00My Dad's Yartzheit, 2009This week was my dad's yartzheit, and it wound up being unexpectedly eventful. I won't bore everyone with the details (for once), but I will share a few points.First, while my reaction was pretty much consistent with last year (see this post), the focus of the day shifted almost imperceptibly. Did I cry? Yes, once. But I managed this year, as opposed to last year, to truly contemplate the lessonsLa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-36678188846655165512009-08-13T22:21:00.002-04:002009-08-13T22:24:45.483-04:00AmazingThere are people who proudly label themselves artists. Such people invariably do so in order to have "creative license" to be dramatic- versus actually creating.This woman however is the real deal. Performance art that speaks to people of all nationalities, if half a million hits on YouTube and comments in multiple languages are any indication.La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-26064861503079343232009-08-11T20:49:00.002-04:002009-08-11T21:30:37.924-04:00Cynosure: Friends of the Opposite GenderIt's been a looooonnnnnng time since anyone asked my opinion on dating. Given my personal history, can you blame them? But I do have one friend who occasionally seeks my counsel. (Or, to use their words, "WWPCD: What would La Poutine Cachere do?".) The current conundrum facing my erstwhile friend was whether it is appropriate to have friends of the opposite gender if you're dating someone La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-77230600706430115592009-08-10T22:26:00.002-04:002009-08-10T22:37:28.746-04:00Summer Reading LiteratureWhen it comes down to it, I have not read many of the works contained on the annual Greatest American Literature lists put out by New York Times et al. While I have read all Hemingway's short stories, the only novel I was able to get through was "Old Man and The Sea". I really tried to get past the first paragraph of "The Sun Also Rises", but I just couldn't. Same goes for John Updike, although ILa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-26336951924898517252009-08-10T13:55:00.003-04:002009-08-10T13:59:04.389-04:00NA SummitIt seems that America only recognises the importance of its neighbours when it's beneficial to them. The rest of the time, I have to endure the inane Canada-bashing, which is born of either US ignorance or ill-placed patriotism. When I'm feeling kind, I believe it's the former...La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-48163634618060205262009-08-09T20:09:00.003-04:002009-08-09T20:28:11.683-04:00Notes from the BlockEverywhere I have lived "out of town", I have been able to at least visually identify my neighbours, if not also know their names and other pertinent details.Not so on my block. Save the:neighbours one door downChinese family three doors downelderly Russian lady four doors down (who inexplicably started speaking to me last week after refraining from interacting these past 3.5+ years. [we now La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-81420576211588952812009-08-06T16:47:00.003-04:002009-08-06T17:54:08.572-04:00OutletOnce upon a time, a verrrrry long time ago, I used to be a singer. And by that I mean my choir toured the world, made recordings, and performed with world-renowned symphonies. We were arguably one of the top choirs in the world, if competing against the Manchester Boy's Choir and Vienna Boy's Choir is any indication.The choir was all my mother the Music Teacher's idea. Because as much as I loved La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-9323256343114271262009-08-04T21:57:00.004-04:002009-08-05T10:11:31.590-04:00Vera Wang Knock Offs!When I saw Barb Chansky on Shavous, at one point in our conversation the topic turned to her footwear. You see, on that occasion, she was sporting a fabulous pair of pink, bejeweled, Vera Wang "flip flops". Then, on a later occasion, I saw Barb in identical flip flops, but this time in brown/gold. Since earth-toned clothing/accessories are my current obsession, to say that I was dazzled by the La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-1716258175444488182009-08-04T20:41:00.002-04:002009-08-04T20:49:21.921-04:00What to do?It couldn't last, of course.Tonight I come home to find a young guy in beanie and white shirt parking his minivan outside the building. No biggie. As I'm going up the stairs schlepping my books, etc., the guy asks "Are you __?". To my chagrin, he uses my English name, which immediately frames him a bad light. So I turn around and ask him why.He says he's my landlord's cousin, and he wants to buy La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-62071006475576784522009-08-04T14:42:00.002-04:002009-08-04T14:55:29.396-04:00Pure EmbarrassmentI had been meaning for a while to bake something and bring it over to one of my frequent Shabbos haunts. This Sunday I decided to just grab the bull by the horns and make the time to do so.I figured a cake was more presentable as a gift than cookies, so I quickly baked one of my vegan marble cakes. I was short on time though, and when I grabbed the cake to deliver it on foot to its destination, La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-87175765306830937572009-08-04T14:31:00.002-04:002009-08-04T14:42:26.169-04:00Chalav ConundrumIf you think about it, frumkeit in NYC is an anomaly. By that I mean that the experience of being frum here is unlike anywhere else in the world. Where else do they have comparable resources available? Not even Israel, from what I hear. Case in point: when I was dating the last time, one NY guy, when I asked where he was holding, decided to list all his dietary chumrahs. I refrained to pointing La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-7429842688785520622009-08-02T23:54:00.005-04:002009-08-03T00:10:04.697-04:00Ban It!Tonight, while listening to music via YouTube (I've been searching for cover songs), I came across the following video. To say that I'm now scarred for life is an understatement. As someone who believes in the pet-owner bond, I found this video positively shocking. I'm still mopping up the puddle I left on the floor- although the sobbing did seem to alleviate my allergy symptoms...Consider La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-51591236462107973592009-07-31T11:20:00.001-04:002009-07-31T11:22:26.290-04:00Small-MindedCall me ignorant, but this strikes me as just...bizarre. How about stressing halachic facts versus "See your Rabbi does it, so it's kosher!". Is it me, or this a bit misguided, albeit well-intended?La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-25401736639673894552009-07-31T10:50:00.004-04:002009-07-31T11:01:00.911-04:00On Tisha B'Av and ElulOn Tisha B'Av, the yetzer hara is very strong. I don't know about any of you, but I find myself sleeping a lot through the day- especially at the moments when I begin to concentrate on the Beit Hamigdash. During one point yesterday of attempting to persevere in maintaining the appropriate focus, I happened upon the following realization.Tisha B'Av is the culmination of the Three Weeks. During La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-43345505639408812082009-07-28T18:58:00.004-04:002009-07-28T19:14:45.329-04:00Cutting InThe local dollar store is notoriously slow. They tend to have only one checkout open, and every trip one finds oneself behind someone needing the manager, which delays the line for several minutes at a time. When you shop there, you just need to have the adequate time and patience to wait it out. That's why things are only a dollar!When I went there earlier today, they were out of carts and La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-46316395613218986652009-07-27T21:45:00.004-04:002009-07-28T01:19:04.896-04:00Queen of the MoronsYesterday, I decided to be proactive and end my suffering. I saw online that the pollen forecast for today was high and so I determined I had reached the point of being sick and tired of feeling sick and tired during allergy season. (Admittedly my suffering is self-inflicted, as it's due to my refusing to take my meds; I hate all pills, and typically refrain from taking even Tylenol).But La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-77282449980694888972009-07-27T15:12:00.002-04:002009-07-27T15:53:53.710-04:00SuspensionDear Readers,When I started this blog back in 2007, I was looking for an outlet during a difficult phase in my life. More specifically, I was looking not only for a venue to keep myself mentally positive and update. When you say things in public, you need to think them through first. That was a process that I felt would help me focus on the spiritual side of things as they happened.However I've La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-66566579225904877022009-07-26T23:03:00.003-04:002009-07-28T01:20:58.451-04:00Poor GuyTonight, the moment I hit the outside stairs, the skies opened up and the deluge began. I couldn't believe my mazel with the timing. :)It wound up being more fortuitous than I had expected. Within a few minutes of my entering the apartment, I heard the sound of water rushing. The "little" room (aka where this laptop and my brand new printer sit) was flooding, courtesy of water pouring through La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-90138683518035955472009-07-26T13:22:00.004-04:002009-07-27T01:39:13.798-04:00FinallyAs mentioned in my previous post, I gather that the mother of the Rosemary's Baby two-some on the block behind is probably overwhelmed by their personalities, and consequently unable to teach them appropriate behaviour. My assumption was based on the general traileresque screaming that is occasionally heard from her or her partner (a man with a penchant for the "F" word)- but mainly from the La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-36963166597108334002009-07-21T12:54:00.004-04:002009-07-28T01:28:09.983-04:00Buzzer, Buzzer, Toil and TroubleMy buzzer rings just now. It is of course not for me, and the guy won't accept he's ringing the wrong buzzer.Several months ago, fed up with the friends of the front apartment tenants ringing my buzzer at all hours of the day and night, I put my name and apartment number on the buzzer. Granted, I didn't really believe it would helps matters much, but what else could I do? Faced with 99% of the La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-7093701445281301412009-07-19T15:30:00.006-04:002009-07-28T01:26:37.068-04:00Sad TailYou may recall from my previous posts the saga of the outdoor cats. Since the high turnover in the building back in June, the kitties moved to quieter pasture. Can't say that I blame them. Aside from one brief spotting of The Sheriff's sister (aka B&W 2) the other week, it's as if they simply vanished. (See here for background/pic). Until this past motzei Shabbos.I was making my way home after La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-33438872244612405502009-07-17T14:49:00.005-04:002009-07-20T01:18:47.471-04:00Homemade Peanut Butter Cups!In an effort to rid my fridge of the pseudo-PB I erroneously purchased this week, I decided to try making homemade peanut butter cups. All I can say is SCORE. Positively delish. Here's the recipe so I can share the joy.Homemade Peanut Butter Cups12 tbsp unsweetened cocoa14 tbsp sugar (or more to taste)1/2 cup peanut butter2-3 tbsp oil1 tsp vanillaCombine cocoa and sugar in a deep bowl. Add La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-59291978290564261442009-07-16T15:31:00.002-04:002009-07-16T15:40:03.504-04:00PB?I think not.Last Shabbos lunch, for some reason that I missed, the conversation turned to all things peanut butter flavoured. To my shock and horror, many people around the table are not fans. True, I go through phases with the stuff, and it wasn't exactly a staple in my diet growing up, but still- how can anyone have a problem with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup? That just blows my mind.Anyhoo, it La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-12304162943235823792009-07-13T15:43:00.002-04:002009-07-13T15:45:34.069-04:00Alcohol and Cancer Risk in WomenGREAT. Just when I had convinced myself that a beer or two a week was okay (since I basically was a zero drinker for ions), the UK publishes a study that kills my buzz. Literally.La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-27691586599158735542009-07-13T15:32:00.003-04:002009-07-13T15:35:44.759-04:00New FruitI seem to have one very un-Yekkish pattern: to eat fruit for the first time in a given season only during one of the time frames when you don't say shechiyanu. What gives??? It's like there's a chink in my Yekki armour. My Dad, olev hashalom, would so not approve.On the plus side, those cherries and plums I had for brekkie were darn delicious. So I can take solace in the fact that while I lost La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-45056565254002547952009-07-12T20:28:00.009-04:002009-07-31T10:49:57.410-04:00Do As I Say, Do As I Do- Parsha PinchasIt becomes apparent upon contemplating what the episode of Pinchas, the census, Zelophedad's daughters, Yoshua ben Nun's appointment as successor, and the enumeration of the festival sacrifices have in common that all instances underscore how appropriate behaviour is rewarded.In the case of Pinchas, he acted for the sake of the community despite knowing that the probable reaction of the klal La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-89974954355011426532009-07-12T11:01:00.004-04:002009-07-12T11:12:21.387-04:00NostalgiaBack in the day (ok, waaaaay back in the day), I used to watch the Sunday matinee feature on fuzzy PBS from Plattsburgh. It was kind of a tradition I had with my Dad- cram ourselves into "the den", angle the rabbit ears for optimal reception on the 13" b&w (our only tv), and settle in for the two back-to-back features.The matinees invariably consisted of film classics, and it was on those Sunday La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-14889446694990784182009-07-08T23:25:00.002-04:002009-07-08T23:29:08.196-04:00Wafergate? :pDespite Canadians being on the liberal side, religion often plays a key role in Canadian life. Taken in that vein, you can appreciate the humour in this article.I can *so* hear Peter Mansbridge's voice reading this one, LOL. Priceless.La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-61410926392805246772009-07-08T23:00:00.003-04:002009-07-08T23:10:46.947-04:00Marble CookiesI'm pretty certain I've previously cited that baking is my first "go to" stress relief activity. It used to be exercise, but I'm getting old, so that now ranks as #2 (although I do pace a lot...).Anyhow, I had made chocolate centre cookies (you know, with hard chocolate in the middle of the top of the cookie) a few weeks ago, and boy, did they wind up taking more energy than I was expecting. So ILa Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-13058220009085486662009-07-07T09:08:00.003-04:002009-07-07T09:15:46.754-04:00Dear JohnAs so aptly put by my co-worker, we got update emails from my previous employer late yesterday afternoon. It would seem that due to the economic meltdown, our multi-national client drastically cut scope, with predictable result being that most of us contractors are ix-nay for "the next phase".While I am generally worried about where my next job is coming from at this point (it's been a month La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-56424729371107261052009-07-06T17:32:00.006-04:002009-07-06T17:49:39.897-04:00Am I Dreaming?Am I in California? Because the apartment keeps shaking...Ah, no! It's the Department of Transportation continuing their "repairs" of my street, which they ripped up several weeks ago and then left mainly unfinished until today. I'm sure, given they wrapped things up at 3 PM and the given workers are union, that the street remains unfinished and a repeat visit is in order.That said, an amusing La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-28909017130488051772009-07-05T09:52:00.005-04:002009-07-08T23:29:27.041-04:00A Canuck's Take on the 4th of JulyThis year of all years, I was hoping to make it to the fireworks. In my part of Canada, the summer is filled with weeks of fireworks displays set to music, and the whole city converges at the waterfront to get the full effect. Feeling homesick or nostalgic (or both), I was hoping to finally get to see New York's version of a fireworks display.Alas, predictably, the show started around motzei La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-26165664660916611472009-07-03T14:09:00.002-04:002009-07-03T15:03:41.423-04:00My Morning Twin!As much as I used to be a morning person, this really is me as of late...La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-4332680683450919792009-07-02T10:20:00.000-04:002009-07-02T10:22:43.448-04:00GeshemI'm telling you, it's not a good sign when my first thought upon arising and seeing clouds through the window is "Joy! Rain!"...followed by the inevitable disappointment when the sun peeks out.SIGH. Can't a girl catch a break and get one day of summer camp rained out. P-uhhh-leeeeeeeease?(Would it be wrong of me to say Geshem? I'm thinking yes, but the desperation is palpable.)La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-20327370393600438632009-07-01T15:30:00.005-04:002009-07-08T23:29:45.316-04:00Happy Canada Day!I was kind of hoping Canada Day wouldn't be so stressful for me as it has turned out to be. But hey, that's what my 6-pack of beer in the fridge is for, right? I even managed to procure some Labatt Blue, a working-class beer at best, but one that brings back much nostalgia for my youth, circa 1988. Is it too early to start drinking yet? On second thought, WHO CARES???HAPPY CANADA DAY!La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-17963271320516833582009-06-28T14:11:00.003-04:002009-07-01T15:26:02.283-04:00On Mormons Et AlFor whatever reason, I've always been a magnet on the Mormon radar. Everywhere I've travelled, worked, etc., they've found me and given me the tap dance routine.So I always wondered what it was about me that attracted that element. Did I look particularly alone and in turn vulnerable? A thinker (since I'm invariably lost in thought while taking public transpo)? And then this afternoon it hit me La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524587867926479504.post-70400884016903698632009-06-28T13:47:00.003-04:002009-06-28T14:10:30.906-04:00The Bubbe SpeaksI let it slip this week to one of my "families" here in Flatbush that I'm planning to ditch the Greater NYC area in the next several months to return to my native land. My declaration met with the expect New Yorker incredulity. I mean, who leaves NY, right?Anyhow I had the pleasure of eating lunch at the said family's yesterday, and even more importantly, the opportunity to catch up with "Bubbe",La Poutine Cacherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612961328069774270noreply@blogger.com7