Sunday, December 30, 2007

A Year in Review of Many Many Pieces






I started this blog in April with the somewhat unsettling name "Pieces of Me" when I was looking to convey myself in a more personal way than my writer 'piece' of my writing blog. It began with writing about dilapidated looking windows on the kibbutz and then became somewhat of a blog in transition as I recorded my fears of settling in Squirrel Hill and unpacking miseries ashamed to admit that perhaps I was moving too quickly for myself.


In this four month period, we've managed to acclimate realizing that Pittsburgh is doable and livable. I've used this blog to vent, share, and become a blog readership which has not fully taken off the ground since I still feel quite unsettled since arriving here but whe I read the first early posts I realize I was quite naive in thinking it's just a 'move'.


This brings me to a case in point: the world is an unsettling place to be in right now. I want our leaders back, I want the truth back, I want old writer and non-writer friends back in my living room of my childhood home so I can feel 'safe' again. (I think about this a lot.) I've also joined a LJ community and the readerships gather a good social networking community.


Writing has become that void I once thought could be severed easily, but is actually representing many pieces of me. I am slowly trying to find the one piece that fits. I've written web articles, magazine articles, blogs, journals, LJ diatribes, stories - all weaving something of a bitter-sweet journey.
After what I am hearing from my teacher colleagues in Israel about the education scene, I don't know if I want to return back after my leave of absence for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year. I don't know if that is my place in my world as much as I miss our dear dear kibbutz home.
But I'm learning from my book proposal, taking yoga classes and writing for children, that I can take control of my own life. And perhaps this is what I was meant to do.
Professional blogging is one option. Writing for magazines is another. As I said, I'm starting to write for children and mustering the courage. But first there's my book proposal, which I must must send out. I take each day at a day. I know I must research before making any decisions and I would like to extend this small community I already have to include those I have not yet 'met'.
What started as a kibbutz blog has emerged as a transatlantic blog reflecting real dreams, aspirations and goals. (I won't bother you with this right now) I know I need to update this blog in terms of more current activity such as my reading nightable, tips, excellent sites, which is actually the main content areas of my writing blog which I started in October of 2006.


But for now, I am taking the rest of today and a bit of tomorrow to relish in the fact that we've survived, Ivry is three years old tomorrow and today is our wedding anniversary of five years.
So, how do you sum up your year in review?

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Soup Memories - Hinda Czernick z"l

It is especially during the holiday season, when I can't help but think about Grandma aka. Hinda Czernick z"l. She died in 1995 when I was in Israel. I am dedicating this blog entry to her, as I try to find a 'home' for her and all the memories of her. In "Soup Memories," I describe her habit and predictability of cooking and how important that element is in parenting our own children..

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She was a short woman who needed some heights. So she cooked in high heeled pumps, back to us in a dark housedress. She hardly talked.

Grandma served the soup in white porcelain bowls always with one thick big matzah ball and heavy chicken broth. We all sipped the soup with gusto. When I wanted to break the heavy silence, I slurped. This irritated my mom and she would say firmly: “Dorit, stop that.” My brother giggled. When my mother collected the soup plates, she would always say: “Ma, this soup is out of the world.”

Sometimes Grandma would add plain white rice to the soup. The broth always left us so full. We could never understand why there were so many meat and chicken courses afterwards.
We never bothered Grandma when she was cooking. The kitchen was her space. When our cousins, aunts and uncles left, we went to the broom closet, then headed afterwards to the bedroom with our magic brooms.

Friday, December 21, 2007

No Guarantees!

There are no guarantees to life. I'm learning that now.

Especially after six - to seven hours writing days and still feeling that maybe nobody is really going to publish about this topic even though it's a real hot one now in the face of literacy especially early ESL Literacy. (my twelve years of work)

But then again, I have to constantly remind myself that I am writing for the experience of getting closer to a dream and in fact, there are always going to be rejection notices.

So what dreams are you pursuing of late? Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Thursday Thirteen




Thirteen Good and Important Things that Happened this Week ....


1. I am making deliberate daily progress with the book project. I don't compromise writing daily, and I don't give up even though during the last few weeks I almost felt I wanted to.


2. I am revising a PB "To the Right of the Bridge" and I finally got a chance to revise it and read it aloud to my writing group.


3. I am finding time to be more social ... mainly virtually but hopefully also offline as well.


4. Isn't it time to start becoming more conscious of your goals? I'm finding it hard to visualize mine so I am working on first visualizing myself producing a list which hopefully will help me start somewhere.


5. Ivry had a beautiful Chanukah party at the JCC. The cards I prepared were lovely. I'm glad I found the right words to top off the Chanukah moment - hello Hallmark! I've posted a short video of it and a few pictures to go along.


6. I got an email today inquiring if I was interested in a part-time teaching job at Point Park University.


7. Haim and I are spending more quality time together. He really gives me the support and piece of mind I need in order to write.


8. I am becoming more conscious of how I sit, use my body especially in long sitting positions. Hello again to Yoga.


9. My old high school friend gave birth to a baby girl. I'm looking forward to pictures.


10. Haim's employers are happy with his work.


11. I am visiting and leaving comments on some really nice blogs. There are a lot of talented writers out there.


12. I am finding realizing that it pays to become part of a community of children's writers. I wish I had enough funds for a SCWBI membership... *sigh* maybe next year.


13. I try to do something good for somebody.. whether it's giving flowers, sending an e-card, complimenting the librarian for her fine work or my mother's home attendant.


Bonus: Ivry just loves the stories I brought him from the library. My latest childhood favorite is Caps for Sale.


What good things happened (or are happening) to you this week?


Have a good TT!


Thursday, December 6, 2007

Thursday Thirteen - Amazing Snow Things




See my previous post on the snow's first impression. This is simply an addition to the list. My the week has flown by fast. What a beautiful sunny day. Happy TT Everyone!

1. Icicles on metal
2. Watching Ivry make a snowball
3. Finding a fresh snowy path
4. Memories
5. The tired slumber one feels racing to drink a cup of cocoa after trudging through a pile of snow.
6. Reading lots of books and finding amazing images to shoot in the snow realizing they've probably been photographed already.
7. Reading "Froggy Gets Dressed" to Ivry
8. Watching Ivry try and eat the snow
9. Watching this cute website sent by a friend. You'll like it. Guaranteed!
10. Praying
11. Watching the Chanukah lights die low
12. Pretending I'm a child again making snow angels
13. Waiting for Haim to come home so we can share our little 'snow tales'

Happy TT!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Snow! Snow! Snow!

It's a winter wonderland here in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh. The wonder of it is the soft purple hues splattered around, then watching Ivry in his just fitting three year old snowsuit watching the tracks his stroller makes in the fresh snow.

I didn't post any pictures of its fresh impression on me; I'm sure you all have your own vivid memories, mine is just another 'image' - simple and pure - baby's first whites second to that of my childhood.

Time to fry doughnuts, make potato latkes along with my nest (nope, I'm not pregnant) reading applesauce recipes, figuring out which books are the best to read and looking forward to another writing day - trudging my suitcase in the dark snow to and from the library. Snowflakes equal progress...the thoughts consolidate and bring out the best in me... and hopefully in you too.

I miss snow angles, lifting my tongue out to catch the snow. I remember the day when I watched Charlie Brown's Christmas and Thanksgiving in one Hodge pie.

In the snow back from the library earlier this afternoon, a Chabad fellow asks me if I'm Jewish and I reply 'yes' and he produces a menorah and a small box of donuts from the heavy laden plastic bags. Knowing me, I take only the donuts. I don't take more than I need - plus I miss when my mom didn't buy me any donuts so I snuck out and bought my own from the money I stole from her deep leather bag. But this Chabad fellow is just doing me a mitzva, and I can only thank him in return and hope that he has a beautiful Chanukah. So I wish him that...again in the snow.

I told that Chabad guy that I have my own menorah since five. I don't go into detail and tell him that Mom bought it when she visited Israel for the last time ... although I want to. And then I'll be forced to take the menorah...

Last night, Ivry and I lit our first candle together in Pittsburgh. I remember him dearly at one, two and now three years old ... and the blessings just keep coming with the next rounds of snows. And I put a series of Psalms of meditative music to keep me in trance with the purple hues, and hope yet for another miracle when my mom and me can be together ... again.