4 am

I woke up the other morning and it was 7:15. There was no screaming. No crying. No dog nudging me with her nose. No husband snoring or blowing his nose or brushing his teeth with the loudest electric toothbrush on the face of the planet.©Talia HaykinI just woke up. It was magical.I never thought I would say that about 7am. I was the kid (adult) who, given the opportunity, could sleep until noon or 1:00. I used to bemoan the loss of the day while feeling super rested. I've forgotten what 'super rested' feels like.©Talia HaykinSince the nugget was born, we have had a love/hate relationship with sleep. He slept great in the hospital then tortured us the first night home (he screamed all night... thank you Happiest Baby On The Block DVD for saving our lives). Then he would sleep five hours at a time at night and then for about a month and a half, he woke up every. 30. minutes. all. night. long. It was at that point that we hired a sleep therapist to come help us. She made a world of difference and his sleep has been a lot more normal since then.©Talia HaykinBut there are still nights... usually when he is teething... that we struggle. He will wake up at 4am and it's just the perfect, exact time that you don't know what to do with him. Bottle? Advil? Will he go back to sleep? Probably not... Especially not if I bring him into our bed... then it's such an awesome adventure, forget sleep! Ok, what if mom crawls into the crib with you? Now will you sleep? 50/50 shot on that one.I totally get that this is part of babyhood.©Talia Haykin But every morning that I open my eyes and the clock says 7am (and not 4am) and the nugget isn't crying, I say thank you. Not to G-d (though I'm sure he had a big part in it), but to the nugget. Thanks, baby, for letting mommy sleep until a normal time.

The Engagement Interlude

Ever since I got engaged I noticed a few things.First and foremost... I can't think about anything for any period of time without wedding planning creeping into my brain... it's like a bug... an awesome frilly, lacy bug... but a bug that distracts me from work. :)Next, the day after we got engaged, everyone immediately asked "So when is the wedding?" "Where are you getting married?" OY! I was still distracted by the shiny object on my ring finger... much less had started planning.Then the oddest thing started happening... to both of us... people (mainly women) would come to us and say "Awww, congrats! Now, can you help me find a guy?" (or girl in the rare occasions that it was a guy asking) So as soon as we were off the market it was assumed that we had Rolodexes of men and women that we were hording. With the engagement ring comes the responsibility to release all the names of the eligible people we had been hiding so as to hedge our bets... I think it's so funny. They wouldn't dream of asking us before we were engaged but all's fair now that we are attached... permanently.After a few times Dan and I looked at each other and he said, "You know... this is a good idea! I wish I could help them out." So we started trying to think of matches for these people. Heck, we are SO thankful to our friends for setting us up... why shouldn't we do that for someone else.Turns out... it's a little harder than it looks. I really don't want to make a bad match or have someone say "Did you REALLY think we would get along?" But at least I am aware of it now and I have started keeping a mental list of boys and girls in my head.Now that we are a month into our engagement (!!!!) and wedding planning is well underway, I am getting TONS of people giving me wedding advice. Which is fun... and slightly annoying at the same time. So I just tried to solicit it all at once on my Facebook. I got some pretty good stuff which I intend to publish here at a later date.Anyway, beyond all of this... being engaged to my best friend is the most amazing thing in the world. Stay tuned for wedding updates!

A Hero In My Eyes

If wearing eyeglasses was a club, I would be getting my 30 year pin in a couple of years along with a tacky gold wristwatch...I might have run for president. There might have been a messy power struggle and a splinter group who later rejoined because they knew I was the best thing for the eyeglasses crew since the invention of nose pads.Okay... that fantasy is all well and good but let's get to the point. I wear glasses. I've worn them since I was three years old. That first pair had little loop arms to go around my tiny ears and a bugs bunny on the side. I was waaaay cool. Actually, what was cool was being able to see. My parents thought I was 'special' when I was little because I always knocked things off the table. Water glasses, wine glasses, sauce, pretty much anything in arms reach for me was destined for the floor. They never really 'got it' but it wasn't until I was screened in pre-school at the JCC that they found out I was knocking things over because I couldn't see and had NO depth perception! My mom told me recently that when I got my glasses for the first time she heard me gasping in the backseat during the drive home. She asked what was wrong and I asked her if she knew there were trees outside. Yup, that is how nearsighted I was. Couldn't see the trees in the yard.Over the years I became a connoisseur of glasses... well... when I got older... until high school I had some interesting choices... tortoise-shell with pink tint... oh yeah...In fact, here is a gallery of some of my glasses over the years:
I hope you enjoyed that... eep... but we are here to talk about my hero. You see the newest frames? Very cute, yes? I love them. I got them back in May actually. Why haven't you seen them? Well, gee... if you live in Colorado and we talk regularly it could be because I have just begun wearing them! Yes I know it is October. But in the entire history of me wearing glasses, this is the first time I can recall having so many issues. Maybe it's just my old eyes but I had to go back and get the prescription redone because my eyes just couldn't take it. Then I just couldn't get the frames to fit my face right. They just hurt all the time. Well... I wasn't very smart about it. You see, I picked a doctor on my insurance (yes I have insurance now and it is SO exciting!) who was near my apartment... not near work... but I live downtown. And the shops downtown close at the end of the business day... meaning I haven't been able to get back into my glasses place to get them fixed! Totally my own fault... super lame and a bummer... I've just been working on average of 60 hours a week lately. Long and busy days don't lend for running out to get my glasses fixed. So on a recent and rare day when I was home during business hours I went it.Shane (that is the fabulous Shane Wheeler for those of you playing the home game) sat me down and we talked about the issues. He measured my face, fixed the glasses and brought them back. With a flick of his magically fingers he fixed the glasses! He made a few adjustments and all the sudden I could SEE!!! I could see and they didn't hurt!!! It was a magical day and Shane, well Shane earned the title of glasses hero. He truly saved the day. The people at Vision Care Specialistsin Denver have been incredible. Spending time with me to get the right pair, the right prescription, and the right fit. We talked about prescription sunglasses and decided we would try to find a pair. Well, goodness gracious, my glasses hero comes through AGAIN! He finds me a pair that look amazing on my face and fit within my insurance budget. I walked out of there feeling amazing. He solved my glasses issues and found me affordable sunglasses with a flick of his optician magic wand! It was amazing. I went back to pick up the sunglasses the other day and his fabulous compatriot, Julie (who is the trendy and fabulous fairy of hot glasses), made some minor tweaks to my glasses and fitted my sunglasses on me! What a joy!!!But truly, I have been without insurance for 12 years. This is not so great being a girl who wears glasses. I have paid way too much for my glasses and gone to all manner of optometrists but I have received the most amazing and kind service with Vision Care Specialists.Thanks to Shane and Julie for fixing me up!

Passover and the Media

Okay, I have to give a big kol hakavod, big ups, to the artistic Jewish community as of late.Seriously.With the Maccabeats getting millions of hits on YouTube, a revolution has been spawned and I am super excited about it! Well, the Maccabeats have taken a vacation for Pesach and to let some other groups shine. Now, don't get me wrong, I miss my 'Beats but these videos for Passover are phenomenal!Here are my favorites:Hands down, the number 1 best! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIxToZmJwdI]Totally Israeli and I love it. Great song mix! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_RmVJLfRoM]These OrthoHotties are a great alternative to the Maccabeats! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qSXrnkSeKs]Lastly, here is the JFNA appeal. This is what I do now, save the Jews... [vimeo http://vimeo.com/22250375]Please consider giving a little this Pesach for those that can't afford to feed their families. Donate hereChag Pesach Sameach and to all - Next Year In Jerusalem!

You speak Hebrew like my mother speaks Chinese...

Says the Israeli Arab man to me...Great. Thanks... at least I KNEW what you were asking... I knew to answer that I am from Colorado and achshav, gar b'yerushalim (and now I live in Jerusalem). And who taught me Hebrew? Ulpan v'abba sheli! (Hebrew class in Israel and my dad)...But Habibi... I appreciate you trying and helping me practice my Hebrew.Interesting experience. On a dig with a 10 Mexicans who can speak okay English, one Slovakian who also speaks okay English, in Israel with Israeli workers who speak Hebrew and Russian and me.Needless to say, I don't talk much here...

Cats in Israel

I literally just watched a woman...a HUMAN BEING... cross the street to get out of a CAT'S path!! What?! Since when do human beings have to get out of the way for cats?Since I live in Israel, actually. The cats have their own underworld here. I sincerely believe there is a cat mafia and they have cat stores and little corrupt cat government officials. They run the place!No but seriously, what's with the cats in Israel? Well here's the short story.Back when Israel was under the British Mandate, prior to 1948, the Brits brought cats to Israel to help with the rat population. As far as I can tell, it worked. I haven't seen a rat or a mouse since I got here... however, the cats have become a nuisance. One vet likens cats in Israel to squirrels in the US... yeah, it's that bad here. They sit and wait in garbage cans and gather around restaurants. The garbage is outside by the street and so it is easy for them to access. However, many cats are sick and injured, it isn't pretty. The worst is when they get in the building. There aren't too many bugs here and not many people have screens so cats just waltz in. I caught a cat in our kitchen a few weeks back. Our kitchen is on the third floor and I noticed the trash was knocked over. I turned on the light and picked up the trash can and this big black cat went flying past me and down the stairs. Ewww... And the cat fights... it's like a movie with all the screeching and squalling.So yes, in Israel, the humans will cross the street to avoid a crazy cat... much better than meeting one in a dark alley at night! There are some movements in Israel to spay and neuter the cats then release them back into the wild in hopes that it will reduce the number of feral cats in Israel but who knows if it is working. The latest estimate I saw placed the number of feral cats in Israel at ... are you ready for this? 30 - 40 million! And most of them aren't cuddly and cute... Not to mention that I have seen a fair share of dead, dying, or decomposing cats... not pretty.And as I type this I can heard a cat whining... oh man!

 

 

The Laws of Sukkah According to Dr. Seuss

The Laws of Sukkah According to Dr. Seuss (see footnotes below)You can build it very small 1 You can build it very tall 2 You can build it very large 3 You can build it on a barge You can build it on a ship 4 Or on a roof but please don't slip 5 You can build it in an alley 6 You shouldn't build it in a valley 7 You can build it on a wagon 8 You can build it on a dragon 9 You can make the schach of wood 10 Would you, could you, YES you should Make the schach from leaves of treebut shouldn't bend it at the knee 11 Build your Sukkah tall or short No Sukkah’s built in the Temple Court You can build it somewhat soonBut never in the month of June 12If your Sukkah is well made You'll have the right amount of shade 13 You can build it very wide You cannot build it on its side Build if your name is Jim Or Bob or Sam or even Tim Build it if your name is Sue 14 Do you build it, YES you do! From the Sukkah you can roam But you should treat it as your home 15 You can invite some special guests Don't stay in if there are pests You can sleep upon some rugs Don't you build it where there's bugs In the Sukkah you should sit And eat and drink but never spit If in the Sukkah it should rain To stay there would be such a pain 16 And if it should be very cold Stay there only if you're bold So build a Sukkah one and all Make it large or make it small Sukkah rules are short and snappy Enjoy Sukkot, rejoice be happy.  

Notes1.Maimonides (RMBM) Mishne Torah, Hilchot Sukkah, Chapter 4, Section 1. The minimum height of a Sukkah is 10 tepachim. A tepach is a measure of the width of the four fingers of one's hand. My hand is 3 1/4 inches wide for a minimum Sukkah height of 32 1/2 inches. The minimum allowable width is 7 tepachim by 7 tepachim. This would result in a Sukkah of 22 3/4 inches by 22 3/4 inches.2.The maximum height is 20 Amot. An Amah is the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. My Amah is 15 1/2 inches for a maximum height of 25 feet. Others say that 30 feet is the maximum.3.According to RMBM the Sukkah can be built to a width of several miles. Shulchan Aruch also says there is no limit on the size of the width.4.RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 6.5.RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 11. RMBM states that one may construct a Sukkah by wedging poles in the four corners of the roof and suspending scakh from the poles. The walls of the building underneath are considered to reach upward to the edge of the scakh.6.RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 8-10 discusses the ins and outs of building your Sukkah in an alley or passageway.7.There is a location referred to in the Talmud called Ashtarot Karnayim. According to the discussion there are two hills, with a valley in between where the Sun does not reach. Therefore it is impossible to sit in the shade of the roof of the Sukkah. I can't find the reference…hopefully next year.8.RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 6. You can go into a Sukkah built on a wagon or a ship even on Yom Tov.9.RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 6. OK, RMBM says a camel but dragon rhymes with wagon a lot better, don't you agree. Anyway, RMBM says you can build your Sukkah on a wagon or in the crown of a tree, but you can't go into it on Yom Tov. There is a general rule against riding a beast or ascending into the crown of a tree on Yom Tov.10.Chapter 5 deals with the rules for the scakh. Basically, you can use that which has grown from the ground, and is completely detached from the ground. So, for example, you cannot bend the branches of a tree over the Sukkah to form the scakh. But you can cut the branches from a tree and use them as scakh.11.This would be a violation of the rule cited in the prior footnote.12.Shulchan Aruch, Hilchot Sukkah, Perek 636, Section 1 The Sukkah should not be built sooner than 30 days before the Hag. However, if the structure is built prior to 30 days, as long as something new is added within the 30 days, the Sukkah is kosher.13.Of course it's a well known rule that you must sit in the shade from the roof of the Sukkah and not in the shade that may be cast by the walls. It seems that this might affect the height of the walls, depending on the longitude of the location where you are building your Sukkah.14.Traditionally, women, servants and minors are patur from the Mitzvah of Sukkah. In our day we hope we know better than to read out half the Jewish people from the observance of Mitzvot. Of course, that's just a personal opinion of the author.15.MBM ibid Chapter 6, Section 6 explains that you should eat, drink and live in the Sukkah for the 7 days as you live in your own home. One should not even take a nap outside of the Sukkah.16.RMBM ibid, Section 10 If it rains one should go into the house. How does one know if it is raining hard enough? If sufficient raindrops fall through the scakh and into the food so that the food is spoiled go inside!

I would really love to credit this to someone but no one I have spoken to really knows the source of the gem! If you have any clues, please post it here in the comments. Thanks! But a special thanks to my uncle, Rabbi Michael Davis for sharing it this year with our family!Update: Thanks to my fabulous commenters, here is the credit! © Rabbi Arthur E. Gould, Sukkot 1999 – 2001.