September Adventures

So it would appear that I skipped the entire month of September. Oops. Also because I have been rambling nonstop about crazy jewish things and trying to make sense of my life, I thought perhaps I would take a day off from that (rest assured, I have another monster of a post about religion brewing, but not for tonight) and just give you the rundown of my crazy adventures.

Where to begin?... How about September 1st?

Kidding, I will not go day by day. But there were a few awesome, great, big things that happened in September.

1. I am now 24. Which my jerk boyfriend likes to remind me is "mid twenties" rather than "early twenties" so I officially became old. Had a nice little outing with coworkers, then went to bed early drunk off margaritas. And my (not really a jerk, except when hes reminding me I'm old) amazing boyfriend outdid all birthdays in memory with a bunch of really thoughtful presents and by being wonderful and awesome.

2. Debbie and Mike got married!!! Yay and congrats! Flew to Philly, rented a car like a grown up, visited cousin Jessica at UPenn, got a grand tour of the campus and some delicious falafel, then drove out to New Jersey for the main event. Beautiful weather, wonderful friends... I'm so sad its over and I feel like I may never see these people again. Sniffle. We always knew the wedding was coming and we would get together for that... but now what? Megelah you need to come visit ASAP or elses! You too Ms. Viscione! What if I told you my guest room had a king size bed? I could throw in room service! Free wireless internet!

3. High holidays. (Ok so maybe there is a brief moment of religious babbling in this post after all.) This was the first year I think that I spent both holidays at Chabad. Rosh Hashana was a nice kind of break from the world- dinner at the rabbi's the first night, all day services, dinner at another family's house the second night, more services, and lunch with yet another family. I am lucky that there are so many families that take in stray people, and fed me. Then yom kippur... such a hard day but also kinda nice. So different to go to Chabad where everyone is taking a special kind of pleasure in fasting, compared to conservative temples where everyone treats it as this torture you have to go through. Like you have no choice but to starve, but at least you are in miserable company. But thats not the point, you aren't torturing yourself, you are focusing on the needs of your soul over the needs of your body. And after, my friend's mother in law took in a few stray people... and fed me homemade bagels. Awesome!

4. So last year I gave up pork... and that has been going really well. But I don't feel so ready to give up either separation of milk and meat (mmm tacos) or shellfish (mmm shrimp). So what should I do as a New Years resolution instead? I have decided to go with candle-lighting. I won't lie, its not so easy as I had planned. First because in the weeks after Yom Kippur there were about 700 holidays. Well, ok, so Sukkot, Shemini Azeret (still not sure I even know what this holiday is for), Simchat Torah, plus Shabbats. And because I'm never home on Friday nights to light. So I have a little portable candle kit that I got once at a Chabad event, and I bought a bunch more tea lights so I can restock. Last Shabbat I lit on the cruise... then Nicole made me blow it out when we went to dinner so I didn't burn the ship down. She's right, of course, you shouldnt leave candles unattended, but then... you're not supposed to blow them out. Oh well, baby steps. So thats the plan this year... no pork, more candles.

5. Sukkot... one of my favorite holidays, since joining Chabad. We never made a big deal about it when I was a kid, and at school it always seemed kinda lame... but at Chabad they seem to take a special pleasure in it. The first night is a nice long night of eating and drinking and singing and the Sukkah is so big because so many people come and decorated so nicely. So I have, as a side resolution, decided to make a point of eating in the Sukkah at least once every year. Took Dan... its not a matter of trying to convert him (if I wanted to do that, I would go find a nice conservative temple in Houston where people are practically normal except for occasionally exclaiming in yiddish rather than throw him in the Hassidic deep end) I just like to spend time with him, and I dont want there to be this big secret place I go all the time to do big secret Jew things. And I'm really grateful and happy that he's willing to give it a shot for me because I know its scary to go there. And then as we were leaving I went and told the Rabbi's wife that he wasnt Jewish. They all kinda assumed he was because a) I was dating him and b) he was there and c) he looks more jewish than I do (says the blue eyed, pale girl). But then when I told the Rabbi's wife he was my boyfriend who worked for NASA she said "Get out! He's Jewish and he works for NASA?!" Well I couldn't lie. Then I got a little mini lecture about soulmates. I think a bigger lecture is probably coming, but I can take it. I know it bothers him that it bothers them and that I have to listen to it... but I think he should understand a little more about guilt, being catholic and all. All my life I've been hearing a lecture about something from someone. What matters is that I love him and hes wonderful and sweet and smart and adorable and takes good care of me and, to a lesser extent, that my parents like him. Also I hope that when you guys meet him, you will like him. Everyone else, doesn't get a say.

6. Operator Cruise! Over 2 years ago when we all started our group flight controller training, called boot camp, we discussed taking a cruise together when we all got certified. Back then we weren't even really friends yet, just a bunch of new young people who left home for horrible texas. Then we became good friends, hung out all the time, planned parties and trips and weekends together. Then we all got certified around March and basically stopped seeing each other. Someone is always working, someone is always sleep shifting, and so nobody was available. We had to plan 4 months in advance and request time off of work in order to even have this one week... and still I think most of us got crap for it.
But it was awesome!!! I wont get into particulars, and pictures will be up on facebook shortly for your perusal, but here are the highlights: Sunbathing! Mayan Ruins, complete with swimmin' hole! Cozumel Zip line + snorkel (no death trap scootering this time). Party in the penthouse! We won the Quest, be jealous!

7. Ok so technically this didn't happen until October but I had to add... Alabama/Florida game. Made my day. Ok, my week.

Now I have a cold while working the overnight shift- my nose is stuffy, my throat hurts, the room is spinning a bit, and I really want to go crawl into bed. However, being grateful for small wonders, I am in mission control! I just need the system to be nice to me tonight.

Whats on the agenda for this month? Cooler weather! This and one more week of overnights. Throw in a weekend shift (13 shifts in all, punishment for taking vacation I guess). And at the end of the month a trip to Orlando with Dan... UCF football, fun with the fam, and maybe, hopefully, fingers/toes/eyes crossed, a shuttle launch.