Pi

Every year, in honor of Pi Day, the Math and Stats Club runs a Pi your Professor contest.  I am a perpetual also-ran, but this year - I think through the combined efforts of Leah W and Paul F - I won handily.  The club raised $150 in total, so that's a win.  But you probably want to see...  (Click for full size.)

It was cherry.

13

In honor of 13 years today, it's Tripback Tuesday.

For posterity, our vows:

I, ____, take you, ____ to be my wife/husband.

To love you and honor you.

To forgive and strengthen you.

To be faithful to you and

To share with you all that is to come.

To serve God and others with you.

So long as we both shall live.

Best decision I ever made!

Purim

She sees when you're not sleeping, she knows
when you do work... it's Shabbas Queen!

Menorah Man!  With the strength of Samson, 

the aim of David, the wisdom of Solomon, 

and the patience of a Patriarch.

So, Purim!  We celebrated last Saturday with a wonderful crew.  Shabbas Queen and Menorah Man were there leading the festivities.

People arrived and got settled, and we started in on the blessings.  Bread was broken, and we started on the nosh (dried fruits, nuts, the challah and a lentil salad) and the Megillah.  People were enthusiastic groggers even in those paragraphs where Haman was mentioned a zillion times.  The main repast was delicious and generated a lot of great leftovers for the week.  Two kugels, kasha varnishkes, sepphardic green beans and the brisket.   I think we did okay for a bunch of goyim.

Elizabeth definitely had the best costume, as Ms. Kralc, multiple medal winner in snowshoe events at Vancouver for the glory of Slobovia.  Bonnie brought homemade groggers that have joined our family.  Pendells loaned the table we ate on, and Lembkes brought a beautiful phylactery for John to wear while reading the Megillah.  Looked great with the coat of many colors.  Lombardos brought hamentashen that were scrumptious.  People brought a lot for the matonat la'eyyonim, so that's a mitzvah, too.

 

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi'anu lazeman ha-zeh.

(Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and has sustained us, and brought us to this season.)

Amen.

Ysabela explains it all.  What's a couple of millenia among friends?

Jewish Heroes, Green Belts and Tea

So... we're gearing up fro Purim.  That includes some fun costumes for kids, so I present:  Shabbas Queen and Menorah Man!

Okay, that's Batman.  But really, there's a Menorah Man.  Both heroes are waiting for their description of super powers.  So if you have any idea, comment or email, please!  Of course, I prefer to catch superhomework...

That's Bela's Shadowy science fair project.  Be nice if some info on it showed up on her blog...

Karen had a small Shalom Tea for Meredith Slater, who's expecting soon.  Spectacular setting and amazing food, I thought.  Even the leftovers were scrumptious

Also, just today was Xavi's test for Green Belt.  We've missed a couple crucial days before the last few tests, so he was probably a bit overdue.  He did a great job, and for the first time broke the board on the first try.

Partners in Health

While there are many ways to donate to help in Haiti, just wanted to quick share one that our friend Elizabeth pointed out: Partners in Health

She notes, "It was started by Dr. Paul Farmer (the subject of "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder) and has 20 years of getting health care to the people and developing a viable Haitian medical presence as well. Website is www.pih.org. They have been sending me updates every few days and, because their programs are outside Port au Prince, they have been able to bring needed medical staff and supplies into the affected areas quickly and efficiently."

Please take some time to pray for the people of Haiti, for their suffering, for their loss, for the rescue and care efforts. Don't underestimate the power of prayer! Nadia Bolz-Weber (Sarcastic Lutheran) had a good sermon on that this week. Plea to God for water for the thirsty, He understands and shares the suffering.

Charity Navigator has an overview of all nonprofits helping in Haiti, as well as ratings for agencies based on their effectiveness and % of funds that goes to relief work.

Catsup Packet

Only real news of the year so far was Bela's birthday. 11! Zoinks. We saw Avatar with some good friends and came back for cake, on the Caturday before. Ysabela's two big loves are cats and dragons, so cat people riding dragons... fuhgetaboudit.

Oh, there is the first family music video...

Fans of Dr. Horrible, beware!

Happy New Year

First post of the new year with an old photo. I think this is from Carmen and Oliver's first wedding at the courthouse, which would put it December 7, 1963. 9 mo.s and 3 days before my birthday. (They said it was a a good honeymoon at Chuck and Alice's cabin.)

Thanks to Ken P for the scan!