I know, same story, but I've once again disappeared from the blogging world for a while. This time, though, I think the time really paid off. My schoolwork has been requiring a lot more attention, and I can definitely say I've been working harder. I took a math test on Friday, and I'm really happy to say it got my grade up to something more acceptable for me. It isn't quite where I hope it will be, but is anything ever good enough for a perfectionist?
I've also been working hard at piano- my teacher has had me memorize two songs in a row, and I think they sound pretty good! I'm definitely ready to record and post a video of one of them, so I'm excited about that. :)
Some good and bad about orchestra- Good: I got second chair! That's right, more hard work and practice paying off. I get to play in a nonet in the concert, which is exciting.
Bad: I killed my violin on Thursday, and I can't even start on how depressed I am about it. You don't understand until you have an instrument and you ruin it, but losing a good instrument is a lot like losing a person. I get sick every time I think about it, and nothing feels right- I've tried other violins because I know I will need to replace it, but nothing is mine. I'm probably going to end up getting the same model as my old one, and just hoping that I can learn to love it as much. </3
Sorry I didn't post more about Passover- it was a very fast week!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Home Again
I'm back! I was actually back yesterday afternoon, but I'm just getting on to post here now. I had such an amazing weekend at convention. I know USY wasn't one of the poll topics that I said I was going to blog about, but its just so amazing, I have to. First of all, if you're Jewish, which I don't think anyone who reads this blog is, join! I can't even begin to put into words how amazing it is, but I can guarantee that it is an amazing experience. ♥
My weekend was filled with a night hike, board elections, Israel advocacy programs, Tikkun Olam programs, lots of praying, amazing study sessions, and a ton of ruach. My favorite part of convention is definitely ruach, fast and slow. Picture over 150 teens standing in tight circle on chairs and singing psalms, hymns, etc at the top of their lungs. Then picture everyone crowded into a small room on the floor, singing really beautiful melodies. It is magical, even though it may not sound that way from my description.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Now since Passover was one of the topics you wanted me to blog about, here's a little bit to start.
As of yesterday morning, my kitchen was all clean. We have a basket full of food in our laundry room, and our table is still not Pesachdik, but our oven, microwave, and counters are all cleaned off and ready for the holiday.
When I went to bed last night, instead of reading like I usually do, I started practicing the Kiddush, the blessing over the wine. Since Passover this year starts on Friday night, also Shabbat, there are extra words added in, and an extra song to go with it. Last year my grandpa asked me to do it without telling me beforehand, so this I'm going to be prepared, including all of the special parts for Shabbat.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Okay one more thing. This is short, but really cute, so I had to mention it. We had a chocolate seder in our 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grade youth groups yesterday, and it was really cool. Wondering why I went? Just because I have a lot of 8th grade friends. Anyway, it was a really cute model Passover meal, but everything was some kind of ice cream or candy.
Kadesh- The first cup of chocolate milk
Urchatz- washing hands
Karpas- Green pistachio ice cream
Yachatz- Breaking chocolate covered matzah in half
Magid- Telling the story of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and a really cute version of the Four Sons modified to be about ice cream.
Rachtzah- Washing hands
Motzi Matzah- Saying the blessing and eating chocolate covered matzah.
Maror- "Bitter" Everything but the Kitchen Sink ice cream.
Korech- Ice cream sandwich
Shulchan Oreh- "Festive meal" of chocolate eggs and marshmallows.
Tzafun- Search for hidden chocolate covered matzah. Winners took home chocolate seder plates.
Bareh- Third cup of chocolate milk
Hallel- Passover song parodies about candy
Nirtzah- Conclusion of the chocolate seder with "Next year in Vermont!" because Vermont is where Ben and Jerry's was started.
Here's a link to one chocolate seder haggadah: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mcoblenz/haggadah2005.pdf
It isn't exactly what we used, but close.
My weekend was filled with a night hike, board elections, Israel advocacy programs, Tikkun Olam programs, lots of praying, amazing study sessions, and a ton of ruach. My favorite part of convention is definitely ruach, fast and slow. Picture over 150 teens standing in tight circle on chairs and singing psalms, hymns, etc at the top of their lungs. Then picture everyone crowded into a small room on the floor, singing really beautiful melodies. It is magical, even though it may not sound that way from my description.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Now since Passover was one of the topics you wanted me to blog about, here's a little bit to start.
As of yesterday morning, my kitchen was all clean. We have a basket full of food in our laundry room, and our table is still not Pesachdik, but our oven, microwave, and counters are all cleaned off and ready for the holiday.
When I went to bed last night, instead of reading like I usually do, I started practicing the Kiddush, the blessing over the wine. Since Passover this year starts on Friday night, also Shabbat, there are extra words added in, and an extra song to go with it. Last year my grandpa asked me to do it without telling me beforehand, so this I'm going to be prepared, including all of the special parts for Shabbat.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Okay one more thing. This is short, but really cute, so I had to mention it. We had a chocolate seder in our 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grade youth groups yesterday, and it was really cool. Wondering why I went? Just because I have a lot of 8th grade friends. Anyway, it was a really cute model Passover meal, but everything was some kind of ice cream or candy.
Kadesh- The first cup of chocolate milk
Urchatz- washing hands
Karpas- Green pistachio ice cream
Yachatz- Breaking chocolate covered matzah in half
Magid- Telling the story of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and a really cute version of the Four Sons modified to be about ice cream.
Rachtzah- Washing hands
Motzi Matzah- Saying the blessing and eating chocolate covered matzah.
Maror- "Bitter" Everything but the Kitchen Sink ice cream.
Korech- Ice cream sandwich
Shulchan Oreh- "Festive meal" of chocolate eggs and marshmallows.
Tzafun- Search for hidden chocolate covered matzah. Winners took home chocolate seder plates.
Bareh- Third cup of chocolate milk
Hallel- Passover song parodies about candy
Nirtzah- Conclusion of the chocolate seder with "Next year in Vermont!" because Vermont is where Ben and Jerry's was started.
Here's a link to one chocolate seder haggadah: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mcoblenz/haggadah2005.pdf
It isn't exactly what we used, but close.
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