Terrible Tiger

I couldn't go without mentioning my shock and horror to hear about the crazed tiger at the San Francisco Zoo. I'm sure everyone's heard about it by now, but the news hit us extra hard considering we used to live 4 blocks away from the zoo, would go there at least twice a week and have video of baby Nina in front of a very hungry looking tiger (was it Tatiana?) pacing back and forth in front of her. I just can't believe that could happen, but maybe I should be more surprised that this type of thing doesn't happen more often. I always hated zoos before I had kids, but living so close the SF Zoo forced my to confront my feelings and embrace our wild neighbors. Certain exhibits always creeped me out and depressed me, particularly the gorillas, elephants (of which there are no more since they either died or went into serious depression) and the lions and tigers, oh my! (sorry - couldn't help myself).

I don't know if they've released the name of the man who was killed, but whoever it was, I hope that he didn't suffer too much pain and that his family is coping with this terrible loss.

Time to Breathe

(Warning - this post is HTML challenged! Sorry techies!)

Okay, dear reader, now that we've gotten all the x-mas hubbub out of the way, I can get back to the really important things - writing this oh-so-important blog, fretting about life and thinking up my next get rich quick scheme. If anyone has suggestions for the latter, please chime in now!

So Christmas this year was particularly hectic yet festive too. This was our 2nd holiday in the Midwest and although it does feel more like home this year, I also was incredibly homesick for both my family in the DC area and my long-lost family and friends in SF. The kids were a big distraction though and I made the most of it by being crafty - I made the Dino Boy for my buddy Miles in San Francisco:









And I made all of us stockings (except Nina's I already made when she was 1 or 2 - how sad I can't remember). Oh, but Kaveh put the heart on mine, awww:

























I did a lot of shopping:







Yes, the kids got more crap that they don't really need, but hopefully these new batch of toys will keep them occupied until spring arrives. How many more days until spring???

What a Sight

Okay, dear readers, I know I have been neglecting you but surely you can understand during this crazy ass time of year.  Now that I am officially on vacation, I will be writing more, starting, well, tomorrow.  In the meantime, please feast your eyes on this card that my hubby, Kaveh, designed and animated for his company. Is he talented or what?

Chanukkah, Chanukkah, 7 Days 8 Nights

People here in La Grange, IL would most likely pronounce it "CHanukkah" with a"ch" sound as in "choo choo". Yes, it's that time of year again. Now my religious background is quite confusing and mixed - Jewish heritage on both my mother and father's side but never learned much about it, practiced Christianity in my teen years (we celebrated Christmas in my home), was nothing in college and beyond, developed an interest in Judiaism in my mid-20s (along with Buddhism, of course), considered finding the perfect Jewish husband in my late 20s but then fell in love with Kaveh, who is also a religious mutt. So none of this really was an issue until recently, now that we have kids and are trying to figure out what's important to brainwash, I mean, teach them. Since I do feel pretty strongly about following some of the Jewish rituals and cultural traditions, we have Shabbat dinner most Friday nights, and sometimes go to temple for high holidays and such. But I must say, I'm pretty uncomfortable with organized religion and question my own beliefs, so I'm really uncomfortable teaching my kids about the bible and God when I don't even know what I believe. That being said, we do like all Americans and celebrate the holidays - yes both Hanukkah and Christmas. I try and talk about the meaning behind these holidays with the kids, but I'm afraid to say that all I think they're getting is that you light a candle, you get a present. You put up a tree, you get a bunch of presents that Santa brings. Sad, so sad. But I feed into it nonetheless.

I think moving to such a WASPy and Catholic area has given me a stronger sense of Jewish pride. I mean, the pressure to assimilate is intense, so I can see why the Jewish traditions in my family got pushed down. I mean, I could not find one freaking dreidel around these here parts. I went to Party City and asked where the Hanukkah section was, and the store clerk looks at me puzzled and says, "Um, I think we have one Hanukkah card". I mean, is that REDONK (love that word) or what? So we will celebrate Hanukkah, sans dreidel, with frozen latkes from Trader Joe's and the Christmas tree glowing from the other side of the room. And I'm loving every one of these 8 nights, even though I'm not quite sure why.

Happy Holidays...

From the mopes.

My Weekend Poem

Feeling a little arty right now - maybe because my choir (I know, it's all I ever talk about) performed in an art gallery today. Here goes (feel free to skip this post if you find it too pretentious. But hey, that's the beauty of having your own blog!):

Friday comes, candles and bread
We'll have to eat in the kitchen tonight -
Dining room too messy and we're too tired to clean it.
Kid movie night gives me a chance to hold my babies close
Close my eyes and soak in the stillness
As I hear a whole new world in front of me

Saturday awakened early from a dream of far-away friends
Cook homemade breakfast and brew strong coffee
Time moves quickly and then its a rush to find ballet slippers and tutus.
We're late as usual.
Come home, steal a few minutes to have a quick frequently-interrupted conversation
On the phone with the far-away friend.
Then the snow starts, white all around.
We hurry to get our Christmas tree and the little one falls asleep in the car.
I wait inside with him, while Baba gets the tree.'
It fills the car up with that holiday smell.
We set it up immediately and the kids surround it
As if we have a new addition to the family.
Now the ice storm starts and there's no choice but to rest and look at the twinkling colorful lights.

Other events -a last-minute birthday party right next door,
More home cooked meals, cleaning and laundry (it's hopeless).
A concert singing holiday songs surrounded by beautiful art
And Christmas decorations.
Eating fesenjan and koobideh
Soaking in the different neighborhoods in the city that is close but worlds away.

Nighttime is here already.
Books, songs, kisses and cries for more of everything.
I blink and it's time for a new week to start again.