Truly

I need to get out of this work environment.  Truly.  It's not good for me.  I really think my boss is mean to me on purpose.  Either it's a power trip or he really hates me.  It's so weird. 
Today I heard parts of a radio broadcast about spiritual DNA.  Like what your gifts just naturally are... Well some of my gifts and passions are - listening to people, playing with children, emotional health and wholeness, spirituality.  I just want to be a better human - and look at things calmly and objectively.  Therefore, being in this 'chicken with their heads cut off, the sky is falling' atmosphere is just not comfortable for me.  Then I see myself becoming like them, and I don't like that!
New career, where are you????

Today...

I missed the Monday blog deadline.  Bad Teresa. 

Tonight's the last night of Hanukkah.  I lit the candles, said the prayers, and listened to Radio Hanukkah.  I don't think I make a very good Jew.  I burnt my counter and almost my hand.  I cleaned up my friend's menorah and then the candles didn't stick very well and they fell out and rolled onto the carpet.  argghh. 

Well, it was a good learning experience.

Today I had dinner with two close friends.  I'm very grateful for them, and other friends - true friends, in my life.  On the way home I heard a song that made me think that there are other people like me in the world.  You ever feel that way?  Like the words of a song could've come directly from your heart - and you're like 'yeah!  someone else gets me!'  or gets 'it'- or sees life like I do... This time it was Salvation Song by The Avett Brothers.  just awesome stuff... just be nice to share it with one of those people like me in the world.

It's been kind of a crap year, I will be glad for 2011 to show up.  ooooh, speaking of which, I gotta go look at sonogram pics of my grandbaby right now! 

peace!

Happy Hannukah!

I'm so excited for Hannukah tonight.  My good friend lent me a menorah, and I printed out the prayers from Wikipedia.  I love this.  I mean, after all, I do call myself a Christian - although I really don't like that term - as it means Christ-like - and I am not quite (by a long shot) that far along on my journey.  But following the teachings of Christianity without knowing and honoring the Jewish traditions and teachings, doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me.  It's an off-shoot of Judaism... or the next generation... or something. 
It's kinda like watching Joanie Loves Chachi without ever having seen Happy Days.  Or Maude without All in the Family... (is this a stretch?  i dunno, but i like it).
I'm learning stuff, too.  Tonight, we will say three prayers, then for the rest of the nights, only the first two:

‏

Blessing for lighting the candles

ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר (של) חנוכה.‏

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha‑olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner (shel) hanuka.

"Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light[s]."

Blessing for the miracles of Hanukkah

ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה.‏

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha‑olam, she‑asa nisim la‑avoteinu ba‑yamim ha‑heim ba‑z'man ha‑ze.

 "Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time..."

Sheheḥeyanu ("Who has kept us alive")

This blessing is said whenever something pleasant that has not happened for a while is encountered.

ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, שהחינו וקימנו והגענו לזמן הזה.‏

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha‑olam, she‑hehiyanu v'kiy'manu v'higi'anu la‑z'man ha‑ze.

 "Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season."

I love that Hebrew is written right to left.  Being left handed, this works for me.