The Sign

Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas on what to do with the sign.

This is such a small quandry, but on the bright side, I suppose it's been a good use of my brainpower to decide some sort of correct reaction to events like this. To think that nothing like this will happen again would be naive.
I won't doctor the sign and put it back up. I don't want to get into any kind of back-and-forth turf battle with people who are socially imbalanced. If they consider it okay to use such an emotion-triggering symbol, then they are automatically suspect (if not for their views, then for their incredibly poor judgment). Changing the sign and putting it back might provoke them to put up another, bigger sign.

I'll just paint over it and throw it away.

Yom Kippur note: If you will be fasting, I hope your fast is an easy one.

Why?

As I was driving home this afternoon, I did a double-take. There was a sign next to the road with the words 'NO WAR' next to a large swastika. I turned the car around and removed the sign, which is now in the trunk of my car.

It was hand-written (and drawn) in huge capital letters. Unfortunately, I still can't use my camera. Not that anyone needs to see something like this anyway. It was at the side of a major road, State Road 436.

My question is, Why? Why did someone put a swastika of all things on a sign if they are in opposition to war? And 'no' to which war? Does the person oppose war in general, or just to the current US war in Iraq? And who did this? Rednecks, which we have plenty of here? Muslims? I don't get it.

You hear about ignorant people sometimes, who don't know the significance of the swastika. But I confess that I never believe these people are completely ignorant, as they often claim to be.

I don't know what to do with the sign. Maybe I'll just paint it black and throw it away. It's not something that anyone wants to deal with, especially at this time of year. It's upsetting. How could this happen, 15 seconds drive from my home?

Iran Sanctions

I just read that the US House of Representatives voted in favor of "extending and tightening sanctions" with Iran. This is indeed good news. The unfortunate reality, though, is that one nation (even the US) can't make much difference. The article even states as much. Also, the sanctions still need to get through the Senate's vote.

So while this is a welcome event, it doesn't change much. As the article says, Russia and China would have to have sanctions as well in order for Iran to really feel the pressure.

I still think it's worthwhile to acknowledge good news.

Doctrine

Maybe I shouldn't even write about this here. I don't know.
No, I'll write about it. It's not pretty, but so what. It's important.
Anyway, who said I have to only write 'nice' things in my blog??

I recently left a congregation because I began to realize that it teaches the "Two House" theory. This theory lives right next door to Replacement theology. (As you can probably guess, I'm not a fan of either one.) This is dangerous and doctrinally incorrect theology.

Greatly spurred on by Replacement theology, Christians persecuted Jews for thousands of years. Unfortunately, this cousin to Replacement theology, the "Two House" theory, has gained popularity in some (not all) Christian Zionist groups. These concepts are attractive to Christians for the probable reason that the theories give Christians a way to believe that they are G-d's chosen people. What it is actually means is, many Christians covet the position that G-d has given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Coveting is a sin, by the way: "Thou shalt not covet.." (See that unambiguous document, entitled "The Ten Commandments," Article Number 10.) (Sarcasm mine.)

There is a growing "Hebrew roots" or "Jewish roots" movement, in which Christians are learning about the Jewish roots of Christian faith, thereby valuing Israel and Judaism, and are learning to connect the original Bible and the New Testament. I believe these are all very good things. The problem begins when some of these groups take it a step further, and embrace the "Two House" theory as well.

If you are interested in learning more about the "Two House" theory, I recommend googling it.

I don't have the stomach to provide links.

Who is this?

Here is the Yaakova caricature!

I don't think it looks like me at all, apart from the hair. And the necklace. And the eyebrows. And eyes. And perhaps the cheekbones and wide forehead.

Okay, it does look like me. Except the nose and chin. I don't know whose shiksa nose that is, but it definitely is not mine!

Hors d’oeuvres, Anyone?

Location of cocktail party: KB Home Design Studio
Theme: French street carnival
Entertainment: Juggler, mime, magician, two caricaturists, and live saxophone music!
Food served: French cheese platters, quiche, escargots in puff pastry, salade nicoise,
pain au chocolat and croissants amandine (a.k.a. chocolate and almond croissants), and my favorite: a dessert crepe station with a chef!
Beverages: A variety of French wines
I drank: 1.5 glasses of Merlot

I have to admit, I mostly went to this party because I’m a huge fan of French cuisine, as well as having errands to run in that part of town. But this really was a fun and well-planned party. And I was rewarded by attending, because the sous-chef at the crepe station gave me some cooking tips!

As soon as I came in, though, I was mobbed by loan officers. Since the real estate market’s slowed down, these same people who wouldn’t return my calls last year are all over me to refer my clients to them. I can’t speak for other Realtors, but for me, the idea of using a loan officer without getting referred by an agent who has used them in multiple past (successful) transactions is just not going to happen. There is way too much that can go wrong with financing to entrust a loan to a complete stranger with no personal references. So while I was nice to them, of course I threw away all their business cards after the event.

I made my way to a buffet table, saw a man who was actively looking for a ham-free quiche, located one, and said to him, “I don’t know if it’s kosher, but that one definitely doesn’t have ham.” He didn’t respond, so maybe he had no idea what I was talking about. Or maybe he was Muslim. Who knows?

Another man, who was probably in his sixties and mostly spoke Spanish, took the escargots in puff pastry. I asked him if he liked that, and he said, “Si, delicioso!” to which I replied, “You do know what that is, don’t you?” He didn’t. I feel that if you’re going to eat snails, you at least have the right to be aware of it, so I tried to find out how to say escargot in Spanish to help the guy.

As the saying goes, "no good deed goes unpunished." So for the rest of the evening, I had to dodge Mr. Escargot. He kept finding me to ask if I’d like to get a glass of wine with him, would I translate something for him, what have you. No thanks, I’m not interested! Move along!

I eventually found safe haven with two female Realtors who were enjoying the live saxophone music. Like me, one of them was also evading a persistent man, so I was in good company. After chatting for a bit about the market and about the alarming number of pushy loan officers at the party, I decided that the coast was clear enough to head over to the crepe station.

Mmm, the crepe station... That made-to-order blueberry crepe topped with whipped cream was so delicious that I kept eating it even while having my caricature drawn by an artist! I could not put that crepe down! I even went back for seconds— embarrassed, but apparently not enough to avoid a second foray into the crepes. (BTW, I'm trying to figure out how to put my scanned caricature into jpg format, so that I can use it on my profile. If anyone has suggestions, please pass them along!)

Having tried the food and finished having my caricature drawn, I checked out the juggling act, the mime, and played a little with the magician. (Where on earth do magicians hide their cards and strings? I even looked up his jacket sleeves during the trick, but nothing except shirt sleeves were up there.) When the magician started making off-color jokes with me and the two women who had joined up with me again, I said my goodbyes to all three of them and called it a night.

Shame!

I feel guilty for not keeping my promise to post the weekly cocktail party experience. Sorry!
It just doesn't feel right to post about excess, gluttony and shallow conversation in the midst of the High Holy days. (Of course, that hasn't stopped anyone else from posting about their shamelessly culinary-based holiday!)
I tried to finish the post, but it made me feel ashamed of all the wastefulness and ashamed of being unappreciative of all I've received from G-d. So I'll try and write something witty and wry very soon. But not tonight.
Another reason is that I'm writing this in bed, with one index finger (and the occasional thumb), because my big cat is lying on my other hand.
:)

L'Shana Tovah!

I hope the new year holds health and happiness for all of you out in blogland!! May you also have a joyful weekend, filled with the love of friends and family.

It's a gorgeous day here in central Florida. The weather is --finally-- cooling down a little, after a summer of our famous heat and humidity. Last night was the first time I didn't use the air conditioner. I'm sitting on my back porch as I write this. (Ahh, the joys of having a laptop... Have I mentioned that I'm having a love affair with my new laptop? We do everything together. It even sleeps right next to me!)

Anyway, as I was saying.. Here I am on the back porch, my dog is happily keeping a lookout for squirrels and lizards, as is my little formerly-feral cat. My other cat is just enjoying the sunshine, and seems to be enjoying the taste of grass. I tell you, this cat experiences the world through her taste buds. It's no wonder that she's overweight. When I give the cats catnip, the little one rolls in it, and the big one just eats it!

I'm thankful for these moments of peace before an upcoming day of probable frustration. My new clients are driving me crazy already, and I haven't even met them in person yet.

Here's how to drive your Realtor nuts: ask for her to do a bunch of research on possible new homes and communities, and ask to meet her the following day. She rushes to do the research on homes, and emails you a map from your home to her office. When the following day comes, tell her it would be a hardship to come to the office to meet her; would she come to your home instead. She tells you she would be happy to meet at a cafe near your home (she has a policy of not meeting for the first time in client's homes, thank you very much.) She finds a cafe near your home, and even emails you a map to the nearest Starbucks. Before the appointment, which she calls to confirm, tell her that the day won't be a good day after all. Great. A wasted work day. That was yesterday, so today, I'll see what their availability is. Again.

Of course, I do have not one but two cocktail parties to attend this evening, so there's that to look forward to. I'm going into culture shock just looking at the two wildly disparate invitations: one is for a "football tailgating theme" party, and the other invitation is very formal, and says "RSVP and business attire required." How I'm going to pull this off in one evening is a mystery to me, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for you, my loyal readers! :) Hee hee, I crack myself up sometimes!

I've already been invited to three parties for next week. This really is sickening excess. I don't know if I should go, as they are all during the Days of Awe. We shall see.

Again, I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Note to Angry Muslims: I'm not Catholic!!

Please. These fanatics are really dancing on my last nerve. Firebombing churches, killing a nun. (May she rest in peace.)

Most of the targets they have hit and plan to hit aren't even Catholic:

"A previously unknown Islamic group calling itself "The Army of Guidance" pledged Tuesday to strike at Christian targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the remarks. "Every place relevant to Christians will be a target," said a statement from the group. "This will be until the accursed infidel, the Vatican, apologizes to Muslims."

You know, I'm not a big fan of the Vatican, either. But I'd say that the Pope was right on target when he alluded to that passage in the Quran, in which Mohammed commanded "spreading the faith by the sword." (Of course, the fact that it was condemned by the Vatican of all entities is a little like, uh, the pot calling the kettle black...)

When he quoted a medieval text which opined that such commandments are evil and inhuman, he was right!! They are! After the recent firebombings and killing, if there was ever any doubt in my mind that these people or their beliefs were "evil and inhuman," then they have certainly proved the point now, beyond a shadow of doubt! So thanks, fanatics, for making the point crystal clear! Now go home and sit down!!!

I've heard that in Israel, one can sometimes find graffiti in Arabic that says, roughly translated: "Today, the Saturday Observant; Tomorrow, the Sunday Observant."

Well. Since apparently I'm screwed any way you look at it, I'll take this opportunity to tell these crazies how I really feel:

YOUR ACTIONS AND RELIGION ARE EVIL AND INHUMAN.

There. I feel much better now. I've been holding that in for a long time. Thank you, jihadists et al, for giving me the appropriate justification for airing my feelings. After all, I figure that if you're going to target me anyway, I'd rather be targeted for a stand I've actually taken.

Sincerely yours,

Yaakova,

the "Sabbath-Observant Christian"

(In case you fanatics haven't bothered to read my other blog)

(On second thought, please don't bother reading it. I don't think it's your cup of tea, so to speak. Not enough violence for your taste.)

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! Come back after I've had a chance to write something!! :)