There is only one Shosh

I'm trying to understand. Really, I am.

2011-09-09T23:52:00.002-04:00

I have a friend. (All stories start that way don't they?) This friend and I met through the birth world, strangely enough, the day I found out I was pregnant with my daughter (and 3 days after she found out about her son). Anyway, long story short, she ended up with some problems that led her to bottle-feeding (donated milk and some formula). I'm proud to be one of the moms who has been able to donate to her in the past.

The other day, she posted this blog on her Facebook page: The Day My Breasts Stole My Identity.

She seemed to agree with some points the author made (specifically which, I can't remember)*, so in an effort to bridge the gap between my CLC, lactivist self and the formula feeders, I decided to give it a read. Poor choice on my part.

Instead of the enlightening and sympathetic feelings I was hoping to get from reading it, it just made me angry. I was furious, sad, confused, at a loss for words, and just completely appalled. Wanna know why?

#1 - "Still, the pain was nothing compared to the feeling of having my professional identity stripped away and instead being seen as someone whose main purpose was to feed another person. I told my family, friends, and colleagues that I loved being a mother. I missed being a rabbi."

First, no one is stripping anyone's identity. Just because your LC told you that your job is to feed your son, doesn't mean that 6, 12, or however many weeks from now when you go back to work that all those things you worked for won't exist. Your job, today, at this moment, is to feed your child. It's called being a mother, especially the mother of a newborn. (Notice I said feed, not breastfeed. And for the record, there are times when I have had the fleeting thought that I wanted someone else to feed my baby because I was over it, but they were quickly fleeting.)

Second, you are a Rabbinical Student. What kind of example are you setting? I'm pretty sure, in everything I have learned in my 27+ years as a Jew, that family and motherhood are revered. I know that when I joined my husband under the chuppah, we promised to have children and love them, nurture them, and guide them through the Torah (not in those exact words, but you get the idea). How can you guide others to make wise and thoughtful choices when you seem to be making a quite selfish declaration about the priority status of your own offspring? Here's some enlightening information on what the Torah says about breastfeeding: Insights from the Torah and Sages and this article on Kveller.com.

"One midrash (rabbinic interpretation of the Bible) imagines the gossip that ensues when the biblical Sarah gives birth to a child when already in her nineties. According to this text, Sarah's neighbors whisper that the baby really belongs to the maidservant. In response, “Sarah stood up and undressed, and her two breasts were spraying milk like two spouts of water.” (Pesikta Rabati 43) Amazed at the miracle, the neighbors bring their own children to drink from Sarah's milk. According to one version of this midrash, all converts for the rest of history are descended from the children who nursed at Sarah's breast. Sarah’s milk, according to this text, has the power to make Jewish souls." - Kveller.com

I guess, as Best for Babes Foundation says on their t-shirt, "The miracle isn't the bra", is it?

#2 - She got bad lactation "help".

At the beginning of the post, she talks about how her son only took 1/2 an ounce during a feeding. Then, later on, she talks about battling with him at the breast and painful latch. Those are big signs, people. BIG SIGNS that something is wrong. The word "pain" should never be associated with breastfeeding. There can be some discomfort, at times, but extended pain, a baby who is fussy at the breast, and poor milk transfer are signs of tongue tie, among other possible issues. Good support and follow up could have done a lot for this dyad. This makes me really sad.

But still, she says this:

"Still, the pain was nothing compared to the feeling of having my professional identity stripped away and instead being seen as someone whose main purpose was to feed another person."

Gag. That makes me angry. I know her pain was real, and it was likely really awful, but loss of identity? Come on. It doesn't last forever. Our children grow up fast.

#3 - We took my son to the pediatrician when he was three weeks old. He was up past his birth weight, but still very small. The pediatrician asked if we wanted to continue to breastfeed exclusively or if we wanted to supplement with formula. Until that point, the only time my son had received formula was during the middle of the night feedings, so I could rest and let my body recover. When formula was offered as an option by the doctor, I jumped at it. Here was a medical professional telling us that we were not ruining our child by giving him formula. I went home and made my son a bottle and he happily ate it. I tried to nurse him later that day, but he just fell asleep. My husband looked at me getting frustrated and in pain and said that maybe it was better if I pumped. That was the last time I breastfed my son.

This is a loaded paragraph, in which I find LOTS of things to talk about. Once again, disservice to the dyad with an non-supportive care provider. Does her pediatrician not know that the WHO ranks infant feeding with formula as it's last resort with direct breastfeeding, pumped mother's milk, and pumped donor milk as more preferable? Did he/she not get a copy of the latest recommendation by the AAP that infants are fed exclusively breastmilk for the first 6 months of life and then supplemented with solids until age one, continuing breastfeeding beyond that as is mutually desired? COME ON, PEOPLE! The baby was well past his birth weight, so there was no need for intervention.

My next issue with this part of the post is that SHE WAS NOT BREASTFEEDING EXCLUSIVELY. I don't care if you choose to supplement as long as you are educated about what it means. She thinks she is exclusively breastfeeding, but apparently she failed to learn the definition of the term "exclusive". Giving a bottle in the middle of the night so you can sleep is setting yourself up for failure. Prolactin levels are highest in the wee morning hours (when this was likely transpiring) and when you send your body mixed signals you can't complain. Your body doesn't know that the 3, 4, or 8 oz you just gave your child still need to be made. It thinks, "oh, we didn't empty over the last 3, 4, or 6 hours, I guess that milk isn't needed. Let's make less next time." It's just following your cues. So please don't complain about your low supply THAT YOU CAUSED.

#4 - I pumped for another two weeks. I hated pumping even more than breastfeeding. I had low milk production and there was no way I was drinking any teas or taking herbs or supplements. If my body couldn’t do it on its own, something that a regulatory agency had not approved was not going to do it for me. I sat with the pump in the morning and the evening, scared to pump during the day because I was home alone with my son. If he needed me, what was I going to do while attached to the pump? Let him cry? Lose the milk? The rental pump was expensive, costing as much per week as a container of formula. By the end of my son’s fifth week, I was producing maybe four or five ounces of breast milk a day.

Ok. Well, your body COULD have done it on its own if you had given it the proper demand to do so. Pumping twice a day is no way to maintain a supply for a newborn. Maybe for a 1 yr old, I suppose. And, yes, what WOULD you do if he started crying? You would feed him the milk you had just pumped, or maybe held him and pumped one side, or maybe worn a hands-free pumping bra and held your child with BOTH arms. You could have sang to him, talked to him, or rocked him in a bassinet with your foot. Motherhood is 99% about creativity. I can't even tell you how many times I have nursed on one side while pumping the other or driven down the busy Atlanta interstate pumping on the way to work. You make it work because you want to. If you don't want to make it work, just say you don't want to do it and stop blaming every conceivable thing under the sun.

And one more thing, since I haven't said enough. Breastfeeding supplements and herbs have been in use for hundreds and thousands of years. In some countries, those herbs ARE regulated and you can buy them in America. The wonderful FDA that you trust so blindly approves things all the time that cause permanent damage and death. You know what they do about it? They say , "oops, we didn't know. It hasn't been around long. Let's pull it now." You can't contend with 1000's of years of trials worldwide, even if they aren't in a Cochrane review.

So there are my thoughts.....care to share yours?

*To my friend who posted this blog, you know who you are. This post is in no way about you. It was just my reaction to what I read. I hope you realize I am just as upset about what happened TO this mom as I am about what she did/wrote.

Google Fun 2.0

2011-09-07T13:07:00.002-04:00

I did this 2-1/2 years ago (read it here) and I thought it might be fun to see what has changed. Enjoy!

Go to Google and do the following:
1. Follow the directions for each question
2. Answer with the first thing that makes sense

Q: Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search.
Shoshanah needs....integrative medicine. (I like this one! Good start....)

Q: Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search.
Shoshanah looks like...the Leaky Cauldron. (Interestingly, when I clicked on it, it went to a survey almost identical to this....lol)

Q: Type in "[your name] says" in Google search.
Shoshanah says..."Club Penguin membership page updated February 2011".

Q: Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search.
Shoshanah wants...rotten tomatoes. (EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW)

Q:Type in "[your name] does" in Google search.
Shoshanah does...not learn quickly. (This has to be the exact same link as last time...lol)

Q: Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search.
Shoshanah hates...there is only one Shosh. (Seriously? My own blog is the best Google can do?)

Q: Type in "[your name] asks" in Google search.
Shoshanah asks..."Why now? And why Arizona?" (This was AFTER bypassing my own blog, yet again.)

Q: Type in "[your name] likes " in Google search.
Shoshanah likes....makeup by Shoshanah. (Eh. I could take it or leave it.)

Q: Type in "[your name] eats " in Google search.
Shoshanah eats... a pickle. (Yum.)

Q: Type in "[your name] was arrested for" in Google Search.
Shoshanah was arrested for....stealing car registration sticker.

Q: Type in "[your name] loves" in Google Search.
Shoshanah loves...Camp Shoshanah.

Q: Type in "[your name] was killed by" in Google Search.
Shoshanah was killed by...list of United States of Tara characters. (This is certainly much better than the terrorism I was killed by last time. Vastly improved.)

A Change in Pace, Sort of

2011-09-06T14:58:00.002-04:00

This blog has never really had a point to it, except to be an outlet for my thoughts. So unless you are under a rock, my thoughts are now pretty much revolving around birth, babies, breastfeeding, becoming a better person (that's not a new one)...you know, those sorts of things. So yeah, watch out! This blog is about to change!

You know what bugs me?

2010-07-13T17:48:00.001-04:00

I've been feeling the need to sit down and write a post for the last week or so, but everytime I get to the computer I forget what I was going to write about. It's really annoying.

On my mind...

2010-07-05T14:30:00.002-04:00

There are lots of things that have been on my mind for a while now. Here are a few:

This Blog - I've thought about the name, the purpose, the content (or lack thereof), the direction. I've thought about the person I was when I started it, and the person I am now.

Family - I've thought about how lucky I am to have one, what I want in the future, the people I miss.

My career - I've thought about what I do, what my goal is, and how I might get there.

I've been thinking a lot lately. Maybe I will expand on some of this....

Turning the page....

2010-05-25T07:46:00.003-04:00

So it's been a really long time since I have written, and I've decided to grace you all with the presence of my words. This blog started out as random ramblings or frustration vents way back in November of 2005 (do you ever go back and read your blog.....it's very interesting...lol), then it kinda turned into a bunch of copy and paste surveys.....so I've decided to get back to the whole point of this blog - airing my thoughts. I hope you will indulge me.

Thought for the day: How do you know you're ready?

"Ready for what?" you might ask. Ready for anything. Life, marriage, change.

I don't think anyone could ever really know. How can you know what the new experience will be like unless you can travel through time? You just have to trust in yourself and hope for the best.

2009 Survery

2010-01-01T10:33:00.002-05:00

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?

Many things. Buying a house and having a baby are on the top of that list.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't even know if I made a NY resolution. If I did, it was probably to have a baby!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

If I personally count, then yes. I also had a few friends have babies and 2 of my SILs.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Unfortunately - yes. One of my good friends, Shelly Jones, died the week before Thanksgiving.

5. What countries did you visit?

Stayed in the good 'ol USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

I would like to have the ability to let go of the things that I cannot control.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Easy - 9/1/09 through 9/3/09. September 1st was the day my water broke, I spent September 2nd in labor, and September 3rd my beautiful baby boy was born.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Giving birth to a gorgeous little boy. I have wanted to be a mom my whole life, and he gave that gift to me.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I'm sure this wasn't an actual failure, but I am still sad that I ended up with a c-section.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I have a new scar - from my c-section. I also got a lot of random bruises from running into stretchers.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A house!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband's, my mom's, and my best friend's (Sarah) - I could not have survived being pregnant, labor, and becoming a mom without them.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Hmmm....I'm sure I could think of someone specific if I really tried....but there were a few people at work that I have look at and thought, "really???"

14. Where did most of your money go?

Toward our house. The rest, I'm still trying to figure out.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My baby (sense a theme?) and my house.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

I dunno.....maybe one of the ones we sing to E.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. Happier or sadder? So much happier!
II. Thinner or fatter? Fatter. But I had a baby, so I have a little bit of an excuse.
III. Richer or poorer? My life is richer. (I agree with Marcus on this one.)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Took more pictures of me pregnant.....and blogged more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Caring what others think.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I worked.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Over and over again.

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
I had several - Deliver Me, 18 Kids and Counting, Top Chef, and others.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
My Mema taught me never to hate - just intensely dislike.

25. What was the best book you read?
The 90-minute Sleep Program - it helped me figure out my kid.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rock-A-Bye Baby - E loves them!

27. What did you want and get?
A house and a baby!

28. What did you want and not get?
A natural birth. I had to be induced and ended up with a c-section, but I WAS able to labor without pain medication so I pat myself on the back for that.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Julie and Julia, I guess.

20. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I don't remember. I turned 25.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to have the birth experience I wanted.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Maternity wear - comfortable and stylish~

33. What kept you sane?
My husband and Zoloft.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Michelle Duggar. I wish I had her patience.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Healthcare reform. I'm so boring, but working in healthcare makes me doubly affected by this.

36. Who did you miss?
I missed my family. Living far away from them is hard.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Elias Solomon - my son!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Babies don't read the books.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Unforgettable, in every way."

50 Questions you've never been asked!

2009-05-06T12:21:00.002-04:00

50 things you've never been asked....copy/paste & share!!

1. What color is your toothbrush?
pink and white, of course!

2. Name one person who made you smile today:
I don't know that I've smiled yet today..I've been alone. But I smile when I think of Joel :-D

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
snoring, probably...I didn't get to bed till 1:30 this morning

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
writing Mother's Day cards and learning how to choose a washer and dryer...what an interesting life I lead!

5. What is your favorite candy bar?
That's hard. It truly depends on my mood....although I always like a Butterfinger Crisp

6. Have you ever been to a strip club?
no...thought about it though...just can't see wasting that kind of money....

7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
I recited my to-do list to myself while writing it down....

8. What is your favorite ice cream?
SMURF! Only to be found at two places in St. Pete.....I miss smurf ice cream..... (btw, it's blue raspberry with marshmallows in it....sooooo good)

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
water out of one of my many reusable sports bottles - this one is a Rubbermaid

10, Do you like your wallet?
usually...except when I put so much in it and it all falls out...

11, What was the last thing you ate?
cinnamon toast crunch, but after this survey I'm going downstairs to find something for lunch!

12, Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
Not this week.....not even for the baby

13.,The last sporting event you watched?
Um....not sure, really.....

14, What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Light butter or white cheddar if it's not tooo flavored

15, Who is the last person you sent a text message to?
I dunno...I delete them after I send them...the last one I got was from Marcus

16, Ever go camping?
Used to, Joel isn't much of a camper.

17, Do you take vitamins daily?
Yep! Prenatals and a DHA supplement

18, Do you go to religious services regularly?
Used to go more regularly, but we usually go if I am off on Friday eve or Saturday morning.

19, Do you have a tan?
Is this a rhetorical question? I have NEVER had a tan.

20,Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
NO!!! Especially right now because pizza is my food of choice.

21, Do you drink your soda with a straw?
If there's one available.

22, What did your last text message say?
Dunno...deleted it.

23, What are you doing tomorrow?
Cooking for Saturday at the shul, and doing more house stuff...hopefully unpacking more!

25, Look to your left, what do you see?
Boxes that need to be unpacked, a file cabinet, an empty box from a laundry sorter, a shredder, and a printer

26, What color is your watch?
I have 2 - my work watch is purple and silver, my regular watch is silver with a black face and a diamond chip.

27, What do you think of when you hear Australia?
"I come from the land down under..."

29, Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Depends if I am alone or with someone....last night I went to the drive thru on my way home from work b/c I craved a fish sandwich.

30. What is your favorite number(s)?
7 and 55

31, Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
The company that used to cut the grass at our house - I was getting a quote.

32, Any plans today?
yes....mother's day cards, shop for washer and dryer, grocery shop, find a mower company, order some books, buy a present for Joel's grandfather, make it to our midwife appointment on time, make dinner

33, How many states have you lived in?
3 - FL, GA, TN

34, Biggest annoyance right now?
my lack of motivation

35, Last song listened to?
I dunno...I have the Aussie song stuck in my head now!

36,Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Probably....never found a reason to, though

37, Do you have a maid service clean your house?
Yes, it's called the Joel and Shoshanah cleaning company!

38, Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
flip flops!!!!!!

39, Are you jealous of anyone?
Yes. Right now I am jealous of Becca because she can feel her baby move, and I don't think I have yet, and she's 2 1/2 weeks behind me!

40, Is anyone jealous of you?
Doubtful

41, Do you love anyone?
I love many people. At the top of the list right now are my husband and baby Tobe!

42. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes.

43, What do you usually do during the day?
Work or procrastinate...those are really the only choices in life.

44, Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
Hate is a 4 letter word that my Mema never let us use. You can intensely dislike someone, but you should never hate them, just what they do or did.

45, Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
yea

46, What color is your car?
green

47, Do you like cats?
Let's put it this way...I don't hate cats..I am just not a cat person.

48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
yes...my husband...I miss him

49, Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Yep - not nearly as good as King's Island or Disney

50, How did you get your worst scar?
Surgery - I had a lipoma taken off my back

More about me and my hubby.....a survey from Tara

2009-03-18T08:48:00.002-04:00

What are your middle names?
Leah and Benjamin

How long have you been together?
4 years, 11 months, 20 days!

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
About 2 weeks

Who asked who out?
Joel asked me to come to Atlanta

Whose sibling(s) do you see the most?
His b/c they live in town...we don't really see either very often.

Do you have any children together?
Soon!!!!

What about pets?
Lucy and Ethel, our pet rats!

Did you go to the same school?
Nope. Out of all the schools I went to, none were the same as his!

Who is the most sensitive?
moi...except he's more sensitive then he lets on...but I still think I claim the prize on this one.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Sweet Tomatoes, probably.....

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Not sure which is further, Canada or California.....

Who has the craziest exes?
Me, I guess, since he doesn't have any....

Who has the worst temper?
MOI.....and it's very short.

Who does the cooking?
Mostly me, but he has been learning over the years...

Who is more social?
I am more outgoing, but we are both very social.

Who is the neat freak?
Neither.....I get the occasional neat-freak moment

Who is the most stubborn?
Me.

Who hogs the bed?
It varies.

Who wakes up earlier?
Him - he goes to work before I get up, and I come home after he's in bed (but only 3 days a week)

Where was your first date?
Los Loros for dinner, then games and mini-golf at Malibu Grand Prix, then Finding Nemo in Kats dorm room

Who has the bigger family?
Me!

Do you get flowers often?
No, but they are still sweet when I get them....

How long did it take to get serious?
About 3 hours.

Who eats more?
It varies.....

Who sings better?
We're both about equal

Who does the laundry?
Usually me, but he washes his work clothes and sometimes my scrubs

Who’s better with the computer?
depends. I am better with Microsoft Office, he fixes the internet.

Who drives when you are together?
Usually him b/c I prefer to sleep.

Who picks where you go to dinner?
Both of us, usually neither wants to pick.

Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
HIM....I have a hard time with this one.

Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Me..... but sometimes I like skirts, too!

Who has more tattoos?
neither of us have one

Who eats more sweets?
I think he does.

Who cries more?
me - definitely me.

ABC's of me

2009-03-06T17:14:00.002-05:00

A - Age: 25

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: Packing and Unpacking

D - Dad's Name: Jay

E - Essential start your day item: Waking up

F - Favorite actor(s): Nia Vardalos, I dunno....

G - Gold or Silver: silver or white gold

H - Height: 5'

I - Instruments you play(ed): violin, piano/keyboard, rockband guitar

J - Job title(s): Staff Nurse (my current title)

K - Kid(s): 1 Tobe!

L - Living arrangements: Apartment with my hubby and rat-babies

M - Mom's name: Karen

N - Nicknames: Sho, Shosh, Shoshie, Shanah, Ty, Tygiuana, Hey You, Short Stuff

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: none

P - Pet Peeve: Stupid People

Q - Quotes you like: See my FB page

R - Right or left handed: Right, but I taught myself to write a little with my left hand when I broke my pinkie in 8th Grade

S - Siblings:3 brothers and 2 SIL on one side, and one BIL and SIL on the other side

T - Time you wake up: Preferrably not before 8 AM

V - Vegetable you dislike: Greens

W - Ways you run late: Dead car battery

X - X-rays you've had: hands, feet, and lower leg, and teeth

Y - Yummy food you make: Parmesan Tilapia, Fish Tacos, and many more

Z - Zodiac: Aquarius

Brought to you by the letter "S"!

2009-02-26T18:57:00.002-05:00

t's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real . . . nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have Fun!!

1. What is your name: Shoshanah
2. A four Letter Word: S**t
3. A boy's Name: Steven
4. A girl's Name: Sarah
5. An occupation: Stenographer
6. A color: Sage
7. Something you wear: Suspenders
9. A food: Spaghetti
10. Something found in the bathroom: Soap
11. A place: Seminole
12. A reason for being late: Stupid drivers
13. Something you shout: S**t!
14. A movie title: Something's Gotta Give
15. Something you drink: Skim Milk
16. A musical group: Sharon, Lois, and Bram
17. An animal: Squirrel
18. A street name: Seminole Blvd
19. A type of car: Saturn
20. The title of a song: Stop! In The Name of Love!

The Last 15 Years....

2009-02-25T18:25:00.002-05:00

****15 YEARS AGO (1994)****
1. How old were you?......................

...10
2. Who were you dating?....................no one
3. Where did you work?......................I was an assistant babysitter to Mema and Papa when they watched my cousin Liz
4. Where did you live?........................Seminole, FL
5. Where did you hang out?.................my house, friends' houses, dance class
6. Did you wear contacts/glasses?......... glasses
7. Who were your best friends?.............Mya (and kinda Nina, but we weren't official)
8. How many tattoos did you have?........none
9. How many piercings did you have?......one in each ear
10.What kind of car did you drive?..........too young...but that would have been interesting
11. Had you been to a real party............not by today's definition
12.Favorite adult beverage?.................n/a
13. Had you had your heart broken?............no
14. Were you Single/taken/Married/Divorced?...single

***10 YEARS AGO (1999)***
1. How old were you?...............................15
2. Who were you dating?..........................no one
3. Where did you work?...........................I was a babysitter for the Steinmann's, and my cousin Liz, I taught Sunday School for Congregation B'nai Israel, and I was a volunteer for All Children's Hospital (trust me, I was there so much it SHOULD have been a job)
4. Where did you live?.............................Seminole, FL
5. Where did you hang out?.......................my house, friends' houses, All Children's, School
6. Did you wear contacts/glasses?...............contacts
7. Who were your best friends?..................Sarah Stumpf (now Schlemmer, and still my best friend!)
8. How many tattoos did you have?.............none
9. How many piercings did you have?...........still just one in each ear, although I had contemplated a second hole at one point
10.What kind of car did you drive?..............I learned the ropes in my mom's Honda Accord
11. Were you still going to parties?..............birthday parties
12.Favorite adult beverage?..................... n/a
13. Had you had your heart broken?........... no
14. Were you Single/taken/Married/Divorced?..... single

***5 YEARS AGO (2004)***
1. How old were you?...............................20
2. Who were you dating?..........................at this time, no one, but in a couple weeks I will have met my future husband!
3. Where did you work?...........................Medfleet Systems, Inc
4. Where did you live?.............................Largo, FL
5. Where did you hang out?.......................my apartment and Sarah's and Kim's houses
6. Did you wear contacts/glasses?...............contacts
7. Who were your best friends?..................Sarah Stumpf (Schlemmer)
8. How many tattoos did you have?.............none
9. How many piercings did you have?...........one in each ear
10.What kind of car did you drive?..............'95 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
11. Were you still going to parties?.............never got into them
12.Favorite adult beverage?.....................B-52, at the time
13. Had you had your heart broken?........... no
14. Were you Single/taken/Married/Divorced?..... single, for a couple more weeks!

****TODAY (2009)****
1. Age?.................................................. 25
2. Who are you dating?.....................................no one, I'm married!
3. Where do you work?............................... Grady Memorial Hospital
4. Where do you live?.................................Dunwoody, GA
5. Where do you hang out?........................ my apartment, friends' apartments/houses
6. Did you wear contacts glasses?.........contacts by day, glasses by night
7. Who are your best friends?..................... Joel and Sarah
8. How many tattoos do you have?.................. none
9. How many piercings do you have?.........................one in each ear
10.What kind of car do you drive?............................1998 Honda Accord
11. Still going to parties?......................birthday parties, Rock Band Parties....nothing too wild
12.Favorite adult beverage?.................. good wine or good beer
13. Have you had your heart broken?........... yes....but then he mended it
14. Are you Single/taken/Married/Divorced? ................MARRIED!!!!!

100 Random Questions....from Leslie's FB

2009-02-21T21:41:00.002-05:00

001. Real name → Shoshanah Leah Kauffman Blaiss (yes....ALL those are on my social security card)
002. Nickname(s)→ Wifey, Shosh, Shoshy, Ty, Tygiauana, Sho, Blaiss
003. Zodiac → Aquarius
004. Male or female → Female
005. Elementary ---Pinellas County Jewish Day School
006. Middle School → Pinellas County Jewish Day School (6th grade), Seminole Middle School (7th & 8th)
007. High School → The Center for Wellness and Medical Professions at Boca Ciega High School
008. Hair color → a perfect dirty blond with caramel and honey highlights
009. Long or short → Mid-length (too long for me)
010. Loud or Quiet → Loud
011. Sweats or Jeans → jeans
012. Phone or Camera --> phone
013. Health freak → no
014. Drink or Smoke? → used to drink on occasion, now I'm pregnant and the docs frown on it
015. Do you have a crush on someone → I will forever have a crush on my hubby
016. Eat or Drink → Drink
017. Piercings → 1 in each ear
018. Tattoos → none

HAVE YOU EVER?
019. Been in an airplane → yes
020. Been in a relationship → Yes
021. Been in a car accident → yes
022. Been in a fist fight → no

FIRSTS:
023. First piercing → Ears (at age 2 mon)
024. First best friend → Mya Kagan
025. First award → I won an art award in first grade

LASTS:
029. Last person you talked to → Joel
030. Last person you texted → Joel, I think
031. Last person you watched a movie with → Joel - we just finished The Bucket List
032. Last food you ate → an orange
033. Last movie you watched --> The Bucket List
034. Last song you listened to → don't remember
035. Last thing you bought → Milk and a frozen pizza
036. Last person you hugged → Joel

FAVES:
037. Food → cheese
038. Drinks → milk
039. Clothing → pajamas
040. Flower → roses
042. Colors → pink, green, blue
043. Movies → not sure, but The Bucket List is definitely on my top list now!
044. Subjects → babies and Judaism

check all that apply
In 2008, I....

045. [x] kissed someone
046. [] celebrated Halloween
047. [ ] had your heart broken
048. [ ] went over the minutes/texts on your cell phone
049. [ ] someone questioned your sexual orientation
050. [ ] gotten someone pregnant
051. [ X] gotten pregnant
052. [ ] had an abortion
053. [] done something you've regretted
054. [x] broke a promise
055. [x] hid a secret
056. [x] pretended to be happy
057. [ ] met someone who changed your life
058. [ x] pretended to be sick
059. [ x] left the country
060. [] tried something you normally wouldn't try and liked it
061. [x] cried over the silliest thing
062. [x ] ran a mile
063. [ x] went to the beach with your best friend
064. [x] got into an argument with your friends
065. [] hated someone
066. [ ] stayed single the whole year

CURRENTLY:
067. Eating → nothing, I'm full from dinner
068. Drinking → nothing
069. I'm about to → go cuddle with my husband
070. Listening to → the tv that Joel is watching
071. Plans for today → since it's almost over, sleep
072. Waiting for → what happens next with buying this house

YOUR FUTURE:
073. Want kids? → yes
074. Want to get married? → done that!
075. Careers in mind --- I'm always up for something new....teaching probably

HAVE YOU EVER:
083. Lost glasses/contacts → no
084. Snuck out of your house → no
085. Held a gun/knife for self defense → no
086. Killed somebody → no
087. Broken someone's heart → yes
088. Been arrested → no
089. Cried when someone died → yes - but only when it was someone I knew personally

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
090. Yourself → usually
091. Miracles → Yes
092. Love at first sight → Yes
093. Heaven → I'm not sure
094. Santa Claus - no
095. Sex on the first date → No
096. Kiss on the first date → yes

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now? my husband
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life? → yes
099. Do you believe in God → Yes
100. Post as 100 truths and tag 10 people→ since I'm not putting this on FB, this instruction is for everyone else!

My Bucket List

2009-02-18T20:46:00.001-05:00

The Bucket List. Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not.

Things you have done during your lifetime:
() Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
( ) Jumped off a cliff
( ) Bungee jump
( ) para sailed
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Flown a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x ) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
() Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x ) Sang Karaoke
( x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x ) been to New York City
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
() Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
( x) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars
() Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Been on a cruise.
() Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( x) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(x) Been to Disney World...
(x ) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
(x) Been to Niagara Falls
( x) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
(x) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier crack
( ) Been spinnaker flying
() Been water-skiing
() Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
() Ever been skinny-dipping
(x) Laugh so hard you cry
() Follow a map for treasure
( ) Drive a dune buggy
( ) Get lost in East L.A. after dark
( ) Got a Tattoo
( ) Been to a Nascar race
( ) Been to the Grand canyon
(x) Ever been to a foreign country outside of North America
() Been to the tall ships
() Been to Plymouth rock
(x ) Been to the redwood trees
( x) Watch a sunset into the pacific ocean
( ) Ever see the northern lights

Stats on my Significant Other....from Marcus' FB

2009-02-18T09:38:00.004-05:00

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?

Either "Trivial Pursuit: America Plays", "The Simpsons", "Family Guy", or ESPN....if it's later in the day it might be "Cash Cab" or "Who Wants To Be A Milionaire"

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on her salad?

Depends on his mood: FF Italian, French, Honey Mustard, or Balsamic Vin.

3. What's one food he doesn't like?

Oh, but there are so many! I think his biggest aversions are mushrooms and onions, though.

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?

He likes a good wine or a Sam Adam's Winter Lager

5. Where did he go to high school? (first name, middle initial?)

White Station High School in Memphis, TN

6. What size shoe does he wear?

8-8.5, I think....but I am NOT going to cheat and walk over to his shoes and look!

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?

Guitars...hands down (or musical instruments in general). He has three right now, and I can't wait until we have enough room so he can bring them out more often!

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?

Turkey or Turkey club - no mayo

9. What would this person eat every day if he could?

My cooking...lol. For some reason, he thinks I am some amazing chef.

10. What is his favorite cereal?

Probably corn flakes or Rice Crispies

11. What would he never wear?

A UF or UGA shirt!

12. What is his favorite sports team?

UT women's basketball

13. Who did he vote for?

I don't know, and it's none of my business.

14. Who is his best friend?

Moi. (But since he is part of the "Big Best Friend" he also shares Sarah and Dustin)

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?

Pop his zits....

16. What is his heritage?

European Jew

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?

This always annoys me...it's plain yellow cake with white icing, but he likes to call it "yellow bread cake"....

18. Did he play sports in high school?

Um, no.....he was in a band...that's right, I married a rock star!

19. What could he spend hours doing?

Playing poker or hearts on the computer, listening to music, or just sitting around with me.

20. What unique talents does he have?

He has an amazing ability to put up with me, especially now with my many and frequently changing moods. But his most special talent is his ability to make me fall in love with him over and over again by just flashing his smile at me.

Firsts...courtesy of Tara

2009-02-17T21:43:00.002-05:00

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? I had 5 dates....Sarah (my BFF), Amber, Jeremy, and the Ryans

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? I talk to him everyday...I married him!

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? Manishevitz

4. What was your FIRST job? My first paid gig was babysitter, but if you don't count that then Sunday School teacher

5. What was your FIRST car? 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera....oh was I pimpin' it in my "lobster mobile"

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? Tara, it was a reply about having lunch

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? does myself count? other than that it was Joel

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Funny how I can remember my hebrew teacher was Mrs. Thorbeck, but I'm having doubts about who my regular teacher was.... maybe Ms. Nelson....I'm honestly not sure, but I know all the other grades!

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? I think my first airplane ride was with my uncle Sandy, and we just flew around the area and came back.

10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? My first official BFF was Mya Kagan. I even remember how I asked her in 4th grade. We were BFFs for about for a pretty good while. And we kept in touch pretty well until last summer.

11.Where was your FIRST sleep over? If by this, you mean slumber party, it was probably Mya or Nina's house. If by this, you mean "sleeping at a house other than your own" it was probably Mema and Papa's or Grandma's.

12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? Joel - he kissed me goodbye before he left for work

13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? Sam and Becca's when I was 19

14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Got up to pee...what else do pregnant women do...I did that about 3 times between midnight and when I did my next activity, which was kiss my husband goodbye before he went to work.

15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? Celine Dion for my 12th birthday with Mya and my parents.....and it was a SCHOOL NIGHT!!!!

16. FIRST tattoo? No permanents, but I've had some temporaries and some henna....one of my faves was a barcode

17. FIRST piercing? my ears....they are the only things pierced, and I was 2 mon old.

18. FIRST foreign country you visited? Canada by way of Buffalo, NY

19. FIRST movie you remember seeing? I think it was Song of the South

20. When was your FIRST detention? I got lunch detention in high school for ATTEMPTING to cheat on a quiz...but I never even got the quiz in front of me before I was caught...that's how bad I am at lying.

21. What was the FIRST state you lived in? Florida

22. Who was your FIRST roommate? As far as a semi-permanent living arrangement, I shared a dorm apartment with 3 girls the semester I went to USF, but I don't remember their names.

Google Fun - from Tara's FB

2009-02-13T14:20:00.003-05:00

Go to Google and do the following:
1. Follow the directions for each question
2. Answer with the first thing that makes sense

Q: Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search.
Shoshanah needs...the Ariel Ministries: Camp Shoshanah Program Schedule.

Q: Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search.
Shoshanah looks like...you as a baby. (I'm not sure what the heck that means.)

Q: Type in "[your name] says" in Google search.
Shoshanah says...."Hey Rockstar, when people say nothing is free, they are wrong!"

Q: Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search.
Shoshanah wants...to live on a remote mountain. (Um, not really. That would be lonely.)

Q:Type in "[your name] does" in Google search.
Shoshanah does...not learn quickly. (This is not true.....)

Q: Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search.
Shoshanah hates...that she loses everything. (This IS true.)

Q: Type in "[your name] asks" in Google search.
Shoshanah asks...where did I find him? (I ask this a lot about Joel!)

Q: Type in "[your name] likes " in Google search.
Shoshanah likes....to read. (Yes, yes I do.)

Q: Type in "[your name] eats " in Google search.
Shoshanah eats... (ok, I had to put this entire quote b/c this link google displayed made me so extremely curious - and disgusted) "Today, Shoshanah eats everything, including raw seal, but says “I’d rather eat kosher meat if I could. The way animals are butchered and handled… it’s much more hygienic. I actually think caribou is kosher, but of course it would have to be killed according to Jewish law.” " (Can you say, OMG!!!!!!!!)

Q: Type in "[your name] was arrested for" in Google Search.
Shoshanah was arrested for....minor in consumption of alcohol. (My poor fetus is already causing me to get arrested...LOL)

Q: Type in "[your name] loves" in Google Search.
Shoshanah loves...to listen to music. (Correct, again!)

Q: Type in "[your name] was killed by" in Google Search.
Shoshanah was killed by...a terrorist attack on her way home from school. (Sadly, the only options were Iraq or Israel....I was pretty much screwed either way.)

Favorite Four

2009-01-07T19:20:00.004-05:00

Four names people call me:
1. Shoshanah
2. Shosh
3. Ty
4. Blaiss

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Sunday School Teacher
2. Nurse
3. Bear Builder
4. Paramedic

Four movies I've watched more than once:
1. Boat Trip
2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
3. Juno
4. Cars

Four places I have lived:
1. Seminole, FL
2. Decatur, Ga
3. Knoxville, TN
4. Dunwoody, GA

Four places I have been:
1. State of denial
2. State of confusion
3. Home
4. Away

Four People who e-mail me (regularly) :
1. Joel's Mom (mother in law)
2. My dad
3. CouponMom.com
4. Facebook. com

Four of my favorite Foods:
1. Cheese
2. Crackers (saltine, then ritz)
3. Celery
4. Cereal

Four Places I'd rather be right now:
1. Florida (just so I can see my BFF)
2. In a house
3. Hawaii
4. Asleep

Four things I am looking forward to this year:
1. Getting a house
2. New episodes of House
3. Celebrating my rat-babies first birthdays!
4. Celebrating my first anniversary with DH!

Four TV shows that I watch:
1. House
2. Girls Next Door
3. Top Chef
4. Jon & Kate + 8

Your turn!

I'm so impatient....

2008-09-24T08:36:00.002-04:00

It's not like that's a new discovery. Everyone knows I'm impatient. I'm trying really hard to be patient, and I think I'm doing a good job this time. You may wonder why this is even important.....my wedding pictures are almost done!!!!!

I got an email from my photographer today saying she was putting the slide show together right now and that it might be her longest one ever! That's so exciting for me..hehe. I secretly, or maybe not so secretly, am addicted to pictures. They capture the moment as no one else was able to see it, but allow us all to embrace the beauty of each moment of our lives.

New Day, New Beginning

2008-06-08T22:48:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my orientation at Grady. I am nervous, scared, excited, I don't even know. It's so crazy. Today I am just me, tomorrow I am a nurse.

I am starting to also have weird wedding dreams. I wish August 31 would come already so that I can move on to nightmares about houses or babies or something.

I love my FI!

For those who don't know, FI=fiance.

New Place, New Life

2008-05-26T12:50:00.003-04:00

I was browsing around my friend Tara's livejournal today and it inspired me to do a little purging of my own.

Joel just came back from an interview with this global warming company and he got a (very) low paying summer job to keep him busy. I'mhappy for him in that respect, but when I began to ask him questions about it, his answers did not excite me. He has to go door-to-door, doesn't know what area of town, doesn't know if he will be alone, has to work 1:45-10pm (which by itself does not bother me, but roaming from door-to-door does), and only gets paid $300/week. I suppose it's $300 more than he gets now, but still. I need more answers to feel comfortable about this.

I am also losing my mind, or maybe it's just all my stuff. I can't find my jump drive, I can't find one of my checkbooks. Oy.

I am so happy we got someone to watch our babies. Thank you big red dog!

I'm excited to go to Mark and Rochelle's (excuse me, Shelley's) wedding this weekend in Chicago. I have never been to Chicago, but I wish we could spend mroe than 2 days there. Oh well. It is a little freaky because it is the last wedding I will attend as a Kauffman. My wedding is next!

I am starting to get nervous about our wedding. Our invitations are going out this week, and I haven't even seen them since they are in Florida and I am, of course, in Georgia. We are down to working on the nitty gritty details. Right now our project is the program. Hopefully it will be done this week so we can see how much it will cost to make. I need to make some lists of things I still need to do. I need to get all my shit together. Oy.

Life is changing, the world is continuing to go on, and I am not sure if I am always as ready as I seem. I am excited to start my career, I am excited to get married, but I am scared to lose the ease of being a student, and I am nervous to leave the role of Kauffman and become a Blaiss. It's just a name, and it doesn't change who I am, but I am no longer the daughter of Jay Kauffman. I will soon be the wife of Joel Blaiss. Thoughts to ponder.

So Jewtastic!

2008-05-18T22:43:00.002-04:00

Today was so fun! Joel and I went to the Israel celebration at the MJCCA! It was awesome! We got to meet the Rabbi from the shul we are thinking of joining, we joinged the JCC, and we got some good food! Joel even tried shawarma AND falafel for the first time! I'm so proud of him for letting me talk him into it, and he loved both! We even managed to run into a couple we know through Carly and Adam (Joel's brother and Sis-in law). We came home with tons of brochures, and now we are even more excited to be joining such an active Jewish community!

Am I the hole in the bagel?

2008-05-18T12:26:00.002-04:00

So apparently everyone I know went to my most favorite Sunday eatery this morning and failed to call moi. What am I? The hole in the bagel? Left out while the goodness around me is devoured not one, but two days in a row? Oh well.

Joel and I had a fabulous time this weekend. We went to see Baby Mama last night. It was cute. I think Joel found it funnier than I did, which is weird. Then we bought Juno, and of course, it was as amazing the second time as the first. We watched some of the extra features which are also pretty hilarious.

This morning we lazied (is that even a word?) around and watched A League of Their Own (which we both love) on TV. We're getting ready to go to Zaban park at the MJCCA to experience Israel in Atlanta in honor of Israel's 60th birthday. It should be fun.....

Our new hood is D'wood....

2008-05-17T09:57:00.003-04:00

So Joel and I are finally moved in to our fabulous new Dunwoody home. We really love it here, Joel especially. The location is fabulous, we are back with our friends, and everything is great.

Minor issues: I haven't held (neither has Joel) our new nephew since he was a week old. WTF? Also, I don't have a job yet.....another WTF? Just thinkgs like that.

Also, there is so much wedding stuff still to do. I have to figure out a lot of things....the biggest of which is the ketubah. At least we picked one out...now we just need to actually buy it.

Also, we need another usher, and we still don't know what's happening with our ketubah signers. Oy. But first, I need a job.

Long Time, No Blog

2008-04-06T20:28:00.002-04:00

OK. So it has obviusly been FOREVER since I posted on here. But today, I just kinda felt like it. For those of you who don't know, I have been working at East TN Children's Hospital for over 2 years, and today is my last day here. It is bittersweet.

I am still looking for a job in Atlanta, because the people I interviewed with a couple weeks ago turned me down. What a loss they'll come to find!

I will be moving to Dunwoody April 24, for those who care.

Since my last post, my niece Rachel was born AND turned 1! Also, March 19, 2008 Shane Karl Blaiss arrived.

Oh yea, and Joel and I got engaged on March 27, 2007!

Anyway, I was thinking I should restart this blog thing.....so keep looking....

Remembering Uncle Sandy

2006-10-01T18:41:00.000-04:00

Some of you probably know this by now, but my Uncle Sandy died today. He has battled cancer for the past year and a half, which is amazing. When he was originally diagnosed with his fast growing, aggressive tumor they gave him 6-9 months at best. That was 18 months ago. He made it through more birthdays, a wedding, and he got to meet my Joel. This last fat was very important to me because my uncle was more than just my uncle, he was my God-father. I will always remember him for who he was. A strong, goal-oriented man who let nothing stop him. He was RVing until just last week! I will always remember how he let me steer his airplane when he took us for flights, and falling in the creek at his ranch in Colorado.

I will be in Denver Tues-Sat of this week, please call the cell if you need me.

I hope everyone has a good fast, and a healthy and happy new year.

Ciao.

A Smokin' Smokies Game

2006-08-05T23:15:00.000-04:00

Okay. So I know it's been a while since I posted. Sue me. However, Joel and I had a pretty cool night tonight and I just HAD to let everyone in on what happened.

We went to our first Tennessee Smokies Minor League Baseball Game. It was tons of fun! Actually, it was kinda boring until about the 6th inning when things really started to happen.

Then, in the top of the 9th inning, our pitcher, Bill White, who wasn't really having a good game, got thrown out for some reason I still haven't figured out. In response, he got into the umpire's face and had to be pulled away by his coach. Then, he walked towards the dugout, and as he was walking, he threw his glove back towards the field. Once he finally got into the dugout, he threw his cleats (one at a time) at home base, and then he took his jersey off and threw that too!!!! It was wild. Wish I knew what the ump said to him.

I would also like to thank Ehren Wasserman of the Birmingham Barons for his delightful pitching that led the Smokies to their 9-7 victory. We love you Wasserman!!!!

That's all for now.

Ciao.

It's a....

2006-07-03T18:57:00.000-04:00

Well, no one really knows yet, but we know it's not a dog!

My brother Joe, and my sister-in-law Erika are going to have a Baby!!!! This will be my first niece or nephew....I can't believe it. They will be married 8 years on July 5th...what took them so long?

Ciao.

Sorry it's been so long...

2006-07-02T22:13:00.000-04:00

Okay. For those of you who ever check this for my commentary, I deeply and sincerely apologize. For the rest of you...where the hell have you been?

I apologize for the fact that it's been 4 months since I posted a blog, but I've been insanely busy. I got sick with one thing after another from the week before my birthday until May. Then I became so busy with school and going out of town, that I meant to post stuff, but I just hadn't gotten around to it.

Anyway, I am posting this commentary from Memphis, TN at the home of The Blaiss family. I'm having a pretty good time visiting Joel's family, with a few exceptions. There's been a few times where I have felt out of place. And it was extremely awkward to be referred to as his "bride" at dinner when that's a touchy subject right now.

Anyway, I'm busy chatting up an old online buddy about his romantic pursuits...so I shall be off...ciao.

Good weather for a walk!

2006-02-21T09:36:00.000-05:00

It was nice outside this morning. Crisp, but not sunny. Perfect. I went for a walk and listened to the dreamy Alan Jackson serenade me while I made a few laps around the apartment complex. I really wish I had someone here to walk with me (Amanda!). I miss you all!

Ciao.

Finally in a winter wonderland....

2006-02-08T23:18:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it. After weeks of weather where you could go outside without even a light jacket on, it's snowing! It started when I was at school, and the only reason I even found out about it is because I was in a night class, and some of the students had to leave to be able to make it home. At first it started as freezing rain, but now it has turned to snow. We're supposed to get 1-2 inches in "the Valley". That's what they call the non-mountain area, where we live. So I guess I'm a Valley Girl. I've taken some pictures, and even managed to get a few seconds of video on my FABULOUS Kodak digital camera that I would be happy to share, if anyone's interested.

Oh, and just so y'all know. This is the first time in my life it has snowed where I live.

Ciao.

Snow Bunny

2006-01-31T22:45:00.000-05:00

Today was soooo much fun!!! Joel took me out to Gatlinburg today, since I had to sleep through my birthday because I worked the night before. Once we got to Gatlinburg, we walked around and then went to the Guinness World Record Museum, which is very cool. There was a lot of really interesting information that I had never heard. After that we had lunch at No Way Jose's. It was okay, I don't recommend it. After lunch we decided to head to the Smokies which I now refer to as the Smock-ees because of how they spell Smoky....what a weird spelling. Anyway, we stopped at the visitors center and got some advice on what roads were closed, and what there was to see and do. Since it was already 3 PM by that time, we decided to drive up the mountain. The guy at the info station said all the Floridians were up there playing in the snow. Well, if any of you know me well, you know I LOVE snow. You also know that I grew up in Florida and have never lived where it snows. And now that I do, it's not snowing! Therefore, I was REALLY excited to find the snow. We had to drive about 9 miles to find it, but once it started showing up on the sides of the road it just became thicker, and thicker. Eventually, I started putting on my hat and gloves and told Joel to pull over at the next big patch of it. I got out of the car and ran towards the snow. Joel didn't have it so easy. He put one foot out of the car and promptly slid on some ice and fell. I felt bad for him, but it was pretty funny!!! We played in the snow for about 20 min. Some people even stopped to take our picture because we looked so silly. I had a fabulous time. I didn't get to make a snow angel because there wasn't enough area that wasn't walked on, but some other people had left some. I also made up for it by nailing Joel several times with snowballs. We attempted to build a snowman, but were unsuccessful. Apparently there is an art to it. After we were done playing, we drove further up the mountain till the road stopped. The elevation there is about 5,000 ft. It was very windy and very cold. At this point there is part of the great Appalachian trail that goes from Georgia to Maine (about 2200 miles). We walked about 100 ft just so we could say we walked it. Then we made some more snowballs and threw them at a building down below. We both managed to nail it on the roof.

All in all it was a great day. I love snow. You should all come visit so you can play in it too. There were some places you could pull off that had enough snow to sled for about 30 feet. I so wanted to do that, but we had nothing to ride. Instead I just watched the kids who were doing it.

Ciao.

I hate birthdays

2006-01-24T22:28:00.000-05:00

I should have realized by the feeling of ....well, maybe lack of feeling about my birthday, that it would suck. It always does, so I don't know why I thought this year would be different. I always spend it alone, for the most part.

Don't go off on Joel, it's not his fault. I'm just doomed to shitty birthdays.

Ciao.

A MUST-SEE...

2006-01-22T22:30:00.000-05:00

Joel and I went to the movies tonight and saw Last Holiday starring Queen Latifah. It was awesome! Everyone should see it, especially all my female friends out there. It was truly inspirational.

Birthday Countdown: 1 day, 12 hours, 18 min

Ciao.

Greeting from Florida!

2006-01-15T17:46:00.000-05:00

Hey all! I'm down here in sunny, but chilly (at least for here) Florida! I've been here since Friday and have had a wonderful time. However, I will be going home tomorrow :-(. The only good part of that is I will get to sleep in my own bed and see my sweetie! I went to visit my new niece Gryffin (the Shih Tzu) who is soooo adorable today, and also saw my brother and sis in law! Tomorrow I am headed to BABW in Tampa with "my boys".

Ciao.

Our first mitzvah of 2006...

2006-01-01T12:31:00.000-05:00

Joel and I celebrated the new year by hanging our first mezuzah on our apartment. Thank you to Grandma for the very special gift which will remind us of you and our heritage each time we enter our home.

Ciao.

Happy 2006!

2006-01-01T09:03:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope everyone's year is filled with the things they deserve, and I wish for you to succeed in everything new that you try. Lots of love!

B-day countdown: 2 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 45 min

Ciao.

Birthday countdown...

2005-12-26T18:11:00.000-05:00

Today begins day 2 of Hannukah and a whopping 4 weeks and 1 day until my 22nd birthday!!!!!!

Hear come the brides....

2005-12-26T18:08:00.000-05:00

Congratulations go out to Kim and John on their engagement! They got engaged on Dec 25, 2005. A wedding date has not been set yet.

Congratulations also go to Sarah and Dustin on their engagement last summer. They will be married November 2006.

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Everyone is getting married. I think it must be illegal to be single these days! I'm so happy for both of my best friends... they have found their matches and are making it official.

Ciao.

To my Christian Friends:

2005-12-25T13:13:00.000-05:00

The previous post was a rant about stuff that bugs me. It in no way is meant to offend those who are dear to me who actually celebrate Christmas for the reasons that it was meant to reflect. I love you all and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Ciao.

10 thoughts about Christmas...

2005-12-25T13:03:00.000-05:00

1. I don't care if you choose to be cheery and say "Merry Christmas" to me, but please don't say, "I don't care if I'm being politically incorrect! Merry Christmas!" and expect me to say it back to you. I do not celebrate this holiday, and I don't mind if someone shares their "holiday spirit" with me as I will gladly share it back. BUT, if you choose to explicitly tell me you are making an extra effort to throw your beliefs in my face, don't expect me to be so damn cheery about it.

2. While Christmas trees and other festive decorations are very nice to look at, it seems to me that companies spend too much time and effort trying to defend their decorations, rather than making them secular. For instance, the hospital that I work for puts up trees with Santa on top, but claims that they decorate "generically". I don't see anything that isn't red and green, or non-Christmas related.

3. I used to like Christmas music. The melodies are beautiful. However, the same old shit is getting very redundant. I'm only 21 and I don't know how many more years of the same crap I can handle.

4. Why in the world would any parent bring their child to a toy store on December 24th to buy toys when they know they will be getting a shit load of them the next morning?

5. Does anyone even go to church anymore, or just when there are presents or candy involved?

6. Why do I have to stick to the colors blue and white to decorate my home for MY holiday? Who claimed red and green for the Christians?

7. Why can't this December 25th be renamed Hannukah eve?

8. Who let the dogs out?

9. Why don't I get holiday pay?

And the most important question....

10. Why the fuck can't a girl get a pizza on Merry Fucking Christmas?

Ciao.

Welcome to the family - Princess Frostina Ballerina!

2005-12-21T22:18:00.000-05:00

Yay! We had a new arrival to the Kauffman-Blaiss household today! Allow me to introduce Miss Princess Frostina Ballerina!

Here is her "True Build-A-Bear Story":

PFB (as we call her) was rescued from the damage bin at Build-A-Bear Workshop at West Town Mall in Knoxville, TN. She was placed there by a Bear Builder when a little boy named Jacob decided that he didn't want her because her left cheek did not light up when he squeezed her hand. Knowing that all BABW friends should be loved and cherished for who they are, Shoshanah rescued her, stuffed her with lots of love, put a heart inside, and prepared to bring her home to her new family. Before she could leave the Workshop, another Bear Builder named Kim decided that PFB should have some clothes, so Joel and Shoshanah dressed her in a beautiful pink ballerina costume with white satin panties, pink satin ballet shoes, and a beautiful pink bow on her hat! She looks even more beautiful in her new outfit than she did naked (which is true for all BABW friends)!

Now PFB is home and resting on the couch with her new friends Joel Bear and Shoshanah Bear who are festively dressed in Hannukah boxer shorts and a menorah shirt, respectively. They even have a "Pawtracks" player (similar to an iPod, but for Bears) and dreidel to play with! PFB also has a brother and sister named Harry and Honey who live upstairs, but she hasn't met them yet!

In other news, Joel and I both got 4.0's this semester/quarter! Yay us! Joel did amazingly well because he had 18 hours. I took 12 quarter hours, which is considered a lot. I also wrote about 8 papers and managed to read an ENTIRE novel, which is something I have NEVER done for class....EVER!

Well, I guess that's all for now!

Ciao!

Happy Happy, Joy Joy!

2005-12-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

Whoo hoo! The last day of Fall quarter. I have three exams today, which isn't too bad since that's all I have. Ethics @ 1PM, English @ 6PM, and Sociology @ 8PM. I'm going to miss my Sociology class. Ms. Evans is hilarious.

For all of you who were worried about me because of my depressing blog a few weeks ago...sorry! It passed. I'm happy now. I think it was probably just the stress of classes. And while y'all might not think 3 classes is stressful, ask Joel about how many papers I wrote. I feel like for the last five weeks, that's all I have done!

So, I'm taking this minute or so out of my studying to let y'all know that I love you. I will be enjoying my break between quarters by working at Build A Bear Workshop almost every day, working at Parkwest on the weekends, spending my days off with my sweetheart taking day trips, going to Memphis for 5 days, and rounding out my time off with a nice weekend in Florida. You'd think it would be a good idea to see where my parents live...and maybe my brother and sister-in-law... if I can get a car and make the trip to Altamonte Springs.

Next quarter I will be taking Biochemistry, Biochem Lab, Microbiology, and World History. What a weird ass combination of classes. But I figure it will involve less papers...so I'm cool with it.

Ciao.

It's sickening, really....

2005-12-04T12:52:00.000-05:00

I HATE BEING SICK. My throat is so sore....I just feel uncomfortable. It sucks.

Ciao.

An interesting thought.....

2005-12-03T19:16:00.000-05:00

So I get these emails from Chabad (those of you who are Jewish know what that is, the rest of you can look it up..lol) and I got this one interesting one, and I thought I'd share part of it with you...

Finding Love
By: Shimon Posner
-----------------

"What type of man do I want to marry?" the young woman
repeated the question that had been asked of her.

"Well, I want someone kind. And smart. But not the
too-kind type that lets himself be walked on. And not
the too-smart type that lets it get
to his head. Someone who isn't too much into his books:
someone sociable. A leader, the life of a party -- but
not someone who aggravates with his presence. I'd like
him to be handsome, but not haughty. I'd like..."

She looked at the Rebbe, seated behind his desk.
His smile was broad and his eyes twinkled.

"It sounds like you want to marry more than one person."

I've told this story -- to myself and to whoever wants
to listen --dozens of times. I don't know who the lady was.

But this next story I know happened to Chana Sharfstein:

Chana (then Zuber) was a young woman in Boston in the
early fifties. Her father had brought the family there
from Stockholm. Not long afterwards he was gruesomely
murdered while walking home from shul on a Friday
night. Back then, such things shocked New England.

Chana will tell you that after she lost her father the
Rebbe adopted her. Six months after her father's murder,
she too, stood before the Rebbe's desk.

Why haven't you married yet? the Rebbe wanted to know.

I haven't met the right one.

What will the right one look like?

A charismatic Prince Charming stepped out of Chana's
imagination and into their conversation.

The Rebbe laughed fully.

"You've read too many novels," the Rebbe said, still
laughing but growing more serious. "Novels are not
real life: they're fictions. They're full of romance
and infatuation. Infatuation is not real. Infatuation is
not love.

"Love is life," the Rebbe continued. "It grows through
small acts of two people living together. With time they
cannot imagine life without each other."

Infatuation you fall into. Love you build. And love-–
the barometer of a successful marriage-–is dependant
20% on the person you marry and 80%
on the way you marry them every day.

"And they shall build a home in Israel," the Rebbe
said in his blessing he sent Chaya and me for our
wedding day. A home and a house is not the
same thing. They say nothing stresses a marriage
like building a house.

May we all be blessed to build a home-–the newlyweds and the
jubilee-plus anniversarians. Built with small acts.
Bit by bit. With time.


- Rabbi Shimon Posner is the director of
Chabad of Rancho Mirage,California.


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So anyway, this is a really ineresting thought...keep it in mind.

I love y'all. Having a better day, btw. Except  that I'm sick.

Ciao.

down in the dumps

2005-12-02T01:18:00.000-05:00

So... here I am. I'm pretty depressed tonight...if you'd like to know. Or even if you didn't really care. I wish I could make my boyfriend happier. I wish I could be thinner without dieting. I wish I could be happier with me. Right now I don't think that to be a possibility. I hate my jobs, I hate my life...

I was always told never to use the word hate.....I intensely dislike.

I miss my friends.

Ciao.

Turkey Day - Shosh Style!

2005-11-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

So we've decided, after very little debate (you want to? okay.) to have Turkey Day early this year. It came about in a sort of "we need to get the football game without rushing" kind of way. It's ok, though.

So we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving today, while everyone else drools in anticipation. We'll let you know how good the birds are this year.

Ciao.

Rain, rain, go away!

2005-11-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

I am so damn sick of this rain. It has been raining all day today, and it rained a lot last week, too. I wish it would stop.

Today I spent the day with my mom, dad, and grandma. We shopped around Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. It was fun, except the rain. I got a new crock pot and some wine stoppers.

Not much to say today. I have a horrible headache and am headed to bed.

Ciao.

To blog where I have never blogged before...

2005-11-21T00:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I have never done this blog thing before. In fact, I've never even read SOMEONE ELSE'S blog before. But I thought to myself, what the hell. So here I am. I don't really have much to say.

Technically it is Monday morning, but it is still Sunday to me since I haven't gone to sleep yet. I've been pretty pissy all day since I was stressed out over all this school stuff I have to do. It sucks. Poor Joel has taken the brunt of my bitchiness. (I'm sorry honey, I love you.) He's just an easy target. My parents and Grandma came in today from Florida and will be here until Thursday. We're going to do Turkey Day dinner on Wed so they can leave for the FSU/UF game.

I guess that's all to say now.

Ciao.