Ugh, no dance...

[gansje]

Blah. Sick instead. But I will dance all over the living room again one day, dammit! I couldn't swing any alone-time yesterday, as I had a lot of work during the day, and I had the kids all evening while L was at his jewelry making class (I'm excited about this, as he has artistic talent he's never really explored before, and it's a really nice

Comments

[alsoname]

I think "We are really happy with our current situation and just love Rabbi So-and-So. Did you know he's the one who married us? Segue into fun memories of our wedding!" is a totally acceptable excuse for not falling for her guilt trip. It's also totally acceptable for you to go off in a corner somewhere with some other parent who isn't thrilled with VEP either and have a conversation that is totally separate from the guilt-trip gathering. I would also imagine that it's acceptable to send Adam off by himself, and let him walk back home when he's done hanging out with his old chums

[gansje]

He's heard back from his two safety schools (Pitt and Penn State, both yesses) but didn't apply anywhere early decision, because that locks you into a school, and Responsible Kid is Responsible and doesn't want to get locked into a school that doesn't offer him a great financial package when we might need him to go to a less expensive alternative. He knows the score.

So we won't hear back from anywhere else until March. We're on pins and needles! His first choice is your alma mater -- Berkeley! Followed by University of Texas at Austin and then by University of Michigan. Next, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and then Case Western. Pitt next, and then Penn State last.

How did I not know you're Jewish?

Also, I am just terrible at deflecting guilt trips. Just plain bad. I must have a birth defect.

Finally, even if I send Adam alone, I still have to send him with a dessert. Which I don't have. Oops.

[alsoname]

Berkeley! It's a great school. Pretty much every department is one of the best in the world. Except I did hear some complaints about the film department, so there's that. :P

And you can't be blamed for not knowing I'm (part) Jewish, as I have the least Jewish surname of them all. I mean, we did celebrate some Jewish holidays when my grandmother was in town, sometimes, but mostly my upbringing was agnostic. And my mom's stepdad was from a Unitarian family, so even my mom doesn't feel like she got the full education. (She was sent to Hebrew school through the sixth grade, which she says was customary at the time for daughters. Sexist '50s!)

As for desserts, can't you get something from a nice bakery?

[gansje]

You know, I totally blanked on your surname last night and now that I think of it, yes, you DO have the least Jewish surname of them all! Well, except for my sister, who married a man whose last name is Christ. First initial, J. Every so often he jokes about changing it to Jesus.

Re. dessert, we aren't supposed to spend money on Shabbat. I'm not as strictly observant as L, so I suppose in a pinch I could, but as I also asked not to bring a hot dish because we also shouldn't cook on Shabbat, I'd feel very hypocritical.

[alsoname]

Couldn't you just steal something nice from a bakery? I don't think there are any rules against that!

But really, if you can't spend money or cook, then doesn't that pretty much preclude dessert of any kind? I am not clear on these rules. In my family I think you'd have to go back four generations to find actual observant Jews. They were the ones who (temporarily?) disowned my great-grandmother for marrying a non-Orthodox Jew.

[gansje]

I could feasibly make Jell-o by boiling water in the microwave, tossing fresh fruit into the mix and making a mold, which, now that I think of it, is probably why it's the beloved dessert of little old Jewish ladies everywhere, but I think we're out of Jell-o too. Wah.

I love the idea of knocking over a bakery, though! *Cue Pink Panther theme music*