Chaverah's question inverted

SO Chaverah asked a great question about the nasty habits of men.
And so this blogger wants to know pretty much the same but I'm asking it from a male point of view.

1. Why do women wear a suit to the grocery.
2. Why do females think they need makeup.
3. Why do married women wear shietals with skin/french parts or "natural looks".
4. Why do girls still naively think that men just 'wanna talk".
5. Why are female styles geared to accentuate the body.
6. What in the world are women thinking, trying to squeeze into clothing that's too small/tight for them, to the point that underwear lines show through.
7. Why do orthodox girls wear those tops that reveal waist when they lean to one side.
8. Dresses robe and coats that have belts, are those really tzniusdik? Isn't the whole point of the belt to enhance the hourglass shape, and therefore pretzus?

OK OK you get the idea, so knowing how males think, why the heck would females wear this kinda clothing?

The only reasoning I heard is that they want to be seen or as I've heard it put "I wanna look good" and of course the response to that is, look good to who?

Mikva Appointments

I started this blog, as noted to give insight to the nuances in the life of, as I see it, a typical chasidisher yingerman
OK OK, nobody is a precise example of what the definition, chasidisher yingerman, is supposed to be, and by some of the feedback I get, you guys definitely don’t feel that I’m it, but in my circles, nobody sees me as very different Maybe I'm as it's called ‘a bissel ufgekleirt’ but nothing that would make or break a potential shiduch, somewhere down the road for my kids.

And as the title says, the following is a true account of a mikva appointment that Spousy had or for a lack of a better word, wanted, as I had mentioned to Lakewood Venter, in Lakewood.
What were we doing in Lakewood? At this point you guys musta realized that I live in Brooklyn, right? Sure, I mentioned it a few times, so 'avu kumt' a Brooklyn chasid to Lakewood eir hakodesh?
Easy.
Vacation!
I see all of you scratching your heads, why the heck would you go there?
Minyan? Kosher breakfast?
Well sorta.
The real answer is….the noshim mikva.
Spousy was scheduled to go that night and we didn’t wanna start out on the vakatzia, at 9pm or in the morning.
We travel to tom’s river with a reservation for room.
After a wrong turn due to construction we get to the hotel parking lot, and trying to avoid people like Mrs. Shpitzle, we park round the back. Spousy says, I’m gonna go check in, and she walks towards the office. At that moment a mabul starts…..no kidding, the rain was so thick I could no longer see her. I, of course had jumped back into the car.
After a few minutes the rain gets lighter and I see Spousy under a roof overhang at the side of the building, looks like she didn’t get totally soaked, must have sprinted there on the spur of the mabul.
I try shouting but she can’t hear me with te deafening rain, so with hand motions I point to the car.
She waves no, as in 'are you totally nuts'?
She point to the office, I see the overhang reaches nearly to the office.
I grin and give her the thumbs up.
Eventually I join her at the front desk just a bit damp, and we check in.
The room is satisfactory and we dump our gear.

Now the hard part.
So we went to Lakewood and started shopping for a mikvah.
You can imagine that one, right?
We’re cruisin down Main Street peering out in the fast approaching twilight.
“Wait, wasn’t it over there?”
“Nah it was the other way, “
“You sure?“
“No, but I remember that fire hydrant, “
“Hey look the capital hotel,”
“So?”
“I think its thatta way “
“There, there it is, that funny lookin building”
“Ok I’ll sit here, and wait. “
“An hour?”
“OK lets see, I’ll wait 10 minutes and if you don’t come out I’ll go find a minyan marriv and I’ll be here, or that pump (pointing) in 45 to 50 minutes ok?”
(Nod)
Spousy walks off.
I lean back outta the direct light of the overhead street light.
2 minutes, Spousy comes back.
Oh oh.
“Huh?” (I can be so very eloquent at times)
“You need an appointment.”
I wrinkle my nose in puzzlement.
“Weeks in advance.”
I wrinkle my eyes too “how do you know weeks in advance, when you’re gonna need the mikva?”
Spousy shrugs “beats me.”
She sits in the car, and we both stare out the window.
OK.
Now what.
“There’s gotta be another mikva in town, I mean this is Lakewood.”
“I can call my cousin.”
“I can my friend.”
We look at each other “no way.”
Silence reigns.
“Ok you wanna go back ask the mikva lady, where else we can go?”
“OK.”
Spousy goes back to check.
A couple of minutes later.
“Drive.”
“Where to."
"4 blocks thatta way” Points.
OK
“Mikva lady says that’s the old mikva.”
“Kosher?”
“Sure, just old.”
Blinking “old?”
“Lady said to call this number” Spousy brandishes a piece of paper in front my nose.
The phone is answered by mikva lady 2.
Spousy listen and responds to the cell phone.
Hanging up she turns to me and says “mikva lady 2 lives right here she’ll let me in.”
How do you spell relief?
Spousy gets out and waves to me.
Time passes, we happen to be a block away from a shul, so I go do maariv, and return to the car over an hour passes before Spousy returns.
She doesn’t look the happy relief as usual.
“Huh?” (sympathetic intonation)
“Don’t ask.’
(For unmarried male readers ,first of all you shouldn’t be reading about mikva stuff and second you should know that when a female says ‘don’t ask’ it means I’m gonna complain about this a bunch.)
“Nu?”
“It was a nightmare.”
“Huh.”
“The tub was dirty, mamash filthy.”
“Hmmm.”
“I had to clean it, before I would get in.”
“Ewww.”
“It was full of garbage and even some dead bugs, mikva lady 2 got me some stuff to clean it with.”
“Coulda helped you.”
“You can’t go in there it’s a women’s mikva.”
“Hmmm.”
“And the mikva itself was cold even though mikva lady 2 tried warming it.”
“Tsah.” (clicking with tongue)
“Barely any lighting and the whole place is really run down.”
“Humph.”
“Are you driving towards to hotel in the meantime?”
“Uh huh.”

We only stayed in Toms River that 1 night, after a kosher breakfast in Lakewood, no, no more details. Just suffice it to say we went on to greener pastures.

Ain't that the truth

HI everybody I know I started this to tell you about the wierd stuff that happens in my life, but somehow these things always seem to be worthwhile publishing. This is an email I got:

The Basics of Islam

The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per
capita in the United States, especially in the minority races!

Allah or Jesus? by Rick Mathes

Last month I attended my annual training session that's
required for maintaining my state prison security clearance.
During the training session there was a presentation by three
Speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim
faiths, who explained each of their beliefs.
I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to
say.
The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam
Complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for
Questions and Answers.
When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"
There was no disagreement with my statements and without
hesitation, he replied, "Non-believers!"
I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All
Followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"
The expression on his face changed from one of authority and
command to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
He sheepishly replied, "Yes."
I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to
Imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your
faith or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!"
The Imam was speechless.
I continued, "I also have a problem with being your friend when you
And your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me.
Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to Heaven and He wants you to be with me?"
You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head.
Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the "Diversification" training seminar were not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim's beliefs.
I think everyone in the U.S. should be required to read this,
But with the liberal justice system, liberal media, and the ACLU,
there is no way this will be widely publicized.
The author, Rick Mathes, is a well-known leader in prison ministry.

ok ok I know it promotes Jesus, on the hand who cares. If Jesus is a reason for gentiles to act more human, than I'm all for him ;)

Opened my pc this morning and msn comes up, I always look to see if there's anything of value, before getting my email n' stuff.
Anyway there was this :
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16259064/
about people doing with less. Can you imagine? People suggesting that they would be happier with less? not having every shmuntzka out there?
Yes! They have come to the conclusion that life needs guidelines. WOW what a concept. they think life can be had, no, life is better with a bit of self control.
Hummmm a novel concept, must have taken years to figure this out.
And to top it off they, having voluntarily tasted this lifestyle say its fulfilling.
So, you think that maybe G-d had it right all these years?
Nah.

Another un-shamefully stolen news article
from JTA

· The Conservative movement’s highest legal body moved to allow commitment ceremonies for gays and the ordination of gay rabbis. The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards endorsed three opinions Wednesday on homosexuality. Two opinions upheld earlier prohibitions on homosexual activity, but the third endorsed commitment ceremonies and the ordination of gay rabbis, while retaining the biblical ban on male sodomy. Two other opinions that were under consideration, which would have removed all restrictions on gay activity, were declared takanot, or substantial breaks from tradition that would require an absolute majority of the committee members for adoption. They were defeated. For more JTA coverage of this issue, click here.

Why do they still call themselves Jewish?
Shouldn't there be a name for movements , I mean not all christians are called catholics some are called protestants, adventists, mormons etc etc
Can't we call em something like De-frummies or Misnomers?

Aol is a real pain in the ........

I was reading hiemish in brooklyn and deceided to put this up, I got it a while back.

http://www.break.com/index/aolhell.html

have fun!

Parshe Questions?

So let me understand this.
Leah davens that her baby and Rachel baby should switch so that Rochel should have 2 boys, no less than the shfachos, whom also had 2 each.
OK, so Dina and Yosef get switched and stuff happens, like the following:

1. Yosef now from a different mom is the object of hate.
2. Dina, being a girl, (duh) gets kidnapped and raped, so its Leah's child as opposed to Rochels.
3. Rochel was scared that if she had no kids, Yakov would divorce her and Eisav would want her, but now due to Leah's t'fila she had Yosef to block her from Eisav's view.

So you guys agree with all that? Weird.

Is this for real?

This letter was forwarded to me:

Becoming Illegal (From a Iowa resident to his senator)

The Honorable Tom Harkin 731 Hart Senate Office Building Phone (202) 224 3254 Washington DC, 20510

Dear Senator Harkin,

As a native Iowan and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.

My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out.

Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent result for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save almost $10,000 a year. Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter would receive preferential treatment relative to her law school applications, as well as "in-state" tuition rates for many colleges throughout the United States for my son.

Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the burden of renewing my driver's license and making those burdensome car insurance premiums. This is very important to me given that I still have college age children driving my car.

If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance.

Your Loyal Constituent,

Donald Simonson Get your Forms (NOW)!! Call your Internal Revenue Service 1-800-289-1040. Please pass this onto your friends so they can save on this great offer!!!!

Fantastic Amazing Miracles

OK 'happywithlot' asked for a list of coincidences that I personally have seen or am aware, first hand of the details. I originally wrote up the list indicating the recipient of the heavenly intervention, in relation to me, cause it would be more real. But I reconsidered, hey I wanna stay anonymous. So at the cost of diluting the impact of these 'coincidences' I changed the names.

1. My "Plony" went to a rebbe (deceased) with a kvitel. My "Plony" has a bunch of kids one of whom is not currently married in their 30s. Inadvertently he left out that child, a female who the rebbe had never met. The rebbe scans the list and says with a frown 'didn't you leave one out?' there was no way for him to know this, short of some sorta divine inspiration.
2. My "PlonyII" had an issue with a "Ben Esav" regarding a lawsuit over some property. After conferring with a lawyer he understood that his legal position didn't look to good, so off he went for a broche at a rebbe (still alive at this writing). The rebbe listens and then closes his eyes. After a moment he opens his eyes and asks by my granddad for the court date. Hearing the date (sometime in Adar) the rebbe blessed my "PlonyII" and told him not to worry. Mr "Ben Esav" was killed by a car 3 days before the case.
3. My "PlonyIII" worked at several jobs before the one he is at now, sometimes doing just OK. After certain bumps in the road he decides to buy a business. He find something he can do and goes to the Rebbe(deceased) for a broche. The business is old and not doing well but my "PlonyIII" insists that the rebbe promises him it's going to succeed. He's doing very well and works maybe 30 hours a week.
4. Spousy's "Plonet" was told by her obstetrician it the beginning of her 2nd trimester that her baby in-utero had a birth defect and at best would be slow. As observant Jews they couldn't abort the baby. Her Hubby went to his Rebbe (alive and kicking) who promises him that the baby will be fine but to please travel to Rabbi X to get his broche. She carried the baby to term filled with worry. The baby is B"H fine, a bit short maybe.
5. Last night I went to the ?????? ????? Rebbe visiting from Yerushalayim. I have never been to him before. He looked at my kvitel and asked 2 things that are the exact priorities in my life now. Blew me away.

More?

Do you really need a shopping list, to make you believe in a Supreme Being?

Go talk to someone with numbers tattooed on their arms, or someone that lived though 9/11 in NYC, that should be enough. Those who have wool over their eyes should know that wool makes me itch.

Bitch of a hubby

The last couple of weeks, The jewish Press has been running responses to letter, originally sent in by a guy complaining that his wife, who was a beaut, is now a chub. He works in a downtown office full of 'Hot Chanies' and is rather miffed that at night he's gotta come home to chubb.

The paper has been printing responses both ways.
One typical response is, the hubby is a jerk and he should love his wife purely due to her investing her life in raising the 3 kids, which is the number one reason she got heavy to begin with.
Second response is more along the line of why do some let themselves go and turbans and houserobes should be banned altogether.
Then there are other non sectarian responses, and those are my favorites.
The woman who writes that she is a Hot Chanie and is having an affair. And there's the Hot Chanie who wishes to be Housecoat Hennie with the patience for floor time with the kiddies.
Feh...... nobodies happy.

Anyway this reminds me of a night out, I had with my wife and a friend of hers. Yes, once apon a time, in a land far away. ( I don't do that anymore, I've outgrown it, thankfully. Hey, I'm not proud of it.)
Anyway we ate out or a movie, I don't remember. When the activity was over, we walked back to the car. Some dude jogged past us and one of our party remarked "is he (the jogger) going to our car too?"
"Bet I can get there first"
"Bet you, I can"
"Yeah, lets see."
So me and the friend ran to the car and waited for my wife to get there.
She was furious.
She didn't show it till we dumped the friend, then the music started.
How dare I play with another woman. We went out. to have a good time and I run off with her.
I pointed out that she wasn't my friend and I wasn't the one who invited her.
But as she was a Unmarried Hot Chanie and was friendly and I, well I was guilty.
Even though I didn't put myself into a tight spot by inviting her, I still allowed myself to flirt.
The race, yeah I won but I lost respect.
It was that easy and in front of my wife too.
I understand how easy it is to get involved with someone you shouldn't.
I also know that while temptation is easy the results are disastrous.
A co-worker of mine is divorced, for the 3rd time. She was a Hot Chanie and wanted to marry 'Macho Moshe or Kool Kalman, which her hubby wasn't. He was a regular run of the mill guy.
So after a couple of years, she dumps him and hooks up with dude II. Naturally it doesn't last and as a still warm Chanie she gets dude III, with the same results.
So, she is still tall & blond but now she has grandkids who don't wanna visit cause she lives alone, in a small 1 and a half room, bug infested apartment. Works 2 jobs instead of babysitting the grandkids and baking them cookies.
Pity her? Yes I guess I do.
I can't help but feel she stepped into it on purpose.

I guess Hashem gave me enough brains to wisen up before....
I am in in a better situation? Will it last? Do I worry to much?
Who knows.

G-d loves me.
Just this morning, He showed me love.
How?
Ahhh, If I tell you, the skeptics will say 'eeh just a coincidence' but the believers will smile.

The story?
OK OK, hold your horsies, I'm gettin to it.
I was on line, in a store when I saw 2 'Hot Chanies' walking by, well, I only saw their heads.
Being a male is what what made my head involuntarily swivel towards them.
I paused and expected them to walk right between 2 parked cars so that I could be zoicha to see what cuts of meat were attached to those heads. (Sorry, I need lots of work in that department.) So while my head is moving that way and my morality pushing back, but failing miserably, a mini van double parks just so that it blocks my view.
Awwwww, what disappointment, I'm gonna resign myself to not getting a good look, but hey look, just behind the mini van is another opening. If I'm shallow enough, I can just wait it out, after all, I'm still on line here.
The line moves up, the cashier take the customer ahead of me. I look out the window again. I dont wanna look a whole time, someone will see the chasidisher yingerman staring at froen, I timed it just right, the Hot Chanies are just about to be visible between the cars.
The minivan backs up.
Blocking my view.
I laugh out loud.
HASHEM LOVES ME.
The other customers think I'm nuts. Everybody loves to be first in line, but to laugh loudly?
I don't care.

Money money money If I had a little money.......

I watch guys drive down the avenue in their shiny Suv's, their wives in expensive suits on a regular Tuesday.
"What does that guy do for living anyway?"
Mentally I go over what my life cost me.....without any extras.
Rent $1500 monthly
Tuition $1700 for all the kids monthly
Gas bill 2-3 hundred a month.
Phone about $50
Cell another $50
Car insurance $150
Life insurance $100
Electric anywhere from 100 to 300 depending on the time of year.
Food about $1000 (hey' that's about 250 a week including Shabbos and etc like diapers)
So far I'm up to nearly $5000 a month and I didn't count clothing and other necessities like haircuts, school pics and other school supplies that pop up just when I'm really short. Shul membership, gasoline to justify my car insurance payments.
Then you got Special times of the year like buying hand made matzos or giving all the kids chanuka gelt.
Then you have to factor in the big one.
Yes I'm talking about the summer (ahhhhh( tortured scream)) you guys know what bungalows cost, right?
Add into this the traveling and higher cost of keeping up with the Cohens, after all 'vee pas't az they have a outdoor-super-duper-deluxe-all-in-one-instantly-hot-never-needs-maintanence-with-extra-shmuntzkes-grill! We gotta get the new better model, right? And the shabbos kiddush, I mean 6 kugals aren't enough and Yankle Shikurboim, bought a 4 liter bottle of Johnny Walker purple label at $500 a bottle. (I think this deserves it's own post - in a couple of months)
Feh.
And sleep-away camp at 4 gees a kid!

Where does all that cash come from?
Anybody?
'Cause I could use some.

New news is old news

HEH I KNEW IT.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=419040&in_page_id=1879

Can't even get any feminist backlash over this.

This was unshamefully stolen from CNN:

Directly addressing the Palestinians in some of his most conciliatory remarks since winning election in March, Olmert described Israel as willing to make far-reaching concessions if the Palestinians choose peace.
"We, the state of Israel, will agree to the evacuation of many territories and the settlements that we built there. This is extremely difficult for us, like the splitting of the Red Sea. We will do it for real peace," he said

Difficult as splitting the red sea. I wonder if Olmert broke a sweat during 'diffcult' task.

I find it amazing that totally secular Jews spice their daily language with biblical terms.

Getting hot under the collar

I noticed on several blogs that some get offended by the infighting, like, nah I’m not gonna name names. You all know what I’m talking about, and if not, well, you’re one lucky ostridge.
What I did wanna explain was why the uh...(mumble and blush) gay, (resume regular voice) issue was largely ignored by most ‘hiemish’ papers.
OK show of hands, who remembers the Mel Gibson commotion? Hey wait, not that one, not the drunk anti-semite stuff, I’m referring to the religious movie he produced a while ago.
It was a mediocre film about a guy who had a violent death. Typical Mel Gibson flick. Right?
Except that this films main character depicted a Jew. So what?
Well being of a religious nature the watchdogs went to sniff it out.
Then they started barking.
Did you ever pass a barking dog, and not follow the animals line of sight, just to satisfy the yenta in you, to see what the heck is going on?
No, me neither.
So the leader of the Confederation-Of-Hiemish-And-Not-So-Hiemish-Groups, goes to see the ‘religious’ movie. When asked what he thought of it, he can’t admit that he slept through most of it, so he puts on his most pretentious face and says “hey wait a cotton pickin' minute, this worldwide, big budget, sure to be famous, major motion picture, is RACIST!”
Ouch!
You bet after that solemn pronouncement, everybody just had to see, just exactly what was racist about it.
And the, niche market film, indeed went on, to become a, worldwide, big budget, sure to be famous, major motion picture.
I and lots of others, I’m sure, winced our way down the streets for a couple of months until the next scandal or shmootz, came along to help us out.
So about the gay parade?
Who says that, having my blissfully ignorant (on adult matters) kids and their buddies talk about it at school, will actually make it go away?
Protest?
Heck yes, it bothers me that of all places in the whole wide world, they have to show perversion in Yerushalayim.
But do I want a ruckus? Absolutely not!
Figured that would have only drawn a bigger crown and given more attention to the parade.
Sadly I was right.

Telemarketeers

I can't stand these calls.
Even with the new do not call register, some how I still get some doozies.
A friend of mine sent me this link
http://howtoprankatelemarketer.ytmnd.com/
Its a recorded phone call, so if your at work get permission from your boss!
See ya round.

Another explanation by request

Yup I doin' it again, on the other hand I really don't mind and have no problem answering any of these questions (hint, send me questions).
http://perturbedmom.blogspot.com/ asked why men don't feel comfortable walking home their female friend, alone especially friday night after the shabbos meal.
OK a couple of things, first most men do not feel at ease with the opposite sex. It takes a while to understand how to relate, how friendly they should be, if comments made will be taken at face value (as you women are not wont to do, what?, women tend to read into things more than men)Men, normal guys, who are happily married, don't want the woman to feel that even if he is friendly there is absolutely no emotional attachment meant. Women make friends and hug and kiss and develop a kind of endearment with friends - men don't.Men can bash each others brains in but 3 minutes later share a beer, with no emotional baggage.I love my wife and (both my male and) female kids. I even love my sisters and mom to a lesser degree. But do I love my buddies, no way.
Second issue "there is no such a thing as a platonic relationship"and as "there is no such a thing as a platonic relationship"How should a guy treat the woman while walking her home?Conversation would be distant, making her uncomfortable. Therefore the guy as perceived as a jerk, why would he wanna put him self in that position.On the other hand even if she doesn't take it as such, the guy will feel flirty, if he acts friendly, thereby infringing on the faithfulness to his wife. Because in real life 'there is no such a thing as a platonic relationship". If you think otherwise, as I'm sure lots of you do, you have the right to fool yourselves.
Any man who will admit to the truth will agree to this.
Better yet ask any accepted Jewish spiritual leader (Rabbi mark/stephen etc, need not apply)
and they will agree to this concept.
Last note, friday night/shobbos eve, is a special time for couples, the warm glow, residual of the chicken soup, is likely to spill over into the bedroom. Why would a guy (or his wife) want to walk and talk with others much less a female.

Respectfully I await the wrath, compliments accepted of course ;)

I promised Chavera I would explain the brocha of "Shelo usanu esha"
OK here goes nuffin!
Davening is not for Hashem! No the L-rd needs nothing from us puny humans.
Well maybe a small token of appreciation.
Hashem made the world to fill a need, namely to do good.
Yes, the Aibishter likes to do chesed.
So you need a recipient for this chesed, hence little helpless sniveling humans. (that's us)
OK, so the world is created and let the chesed roll.
Now for short note, to paraphrase Arnold Fine i'll give you 'ah farinstance'. You buy lolly pops to give to 2 kids, you tell 'em that they get the lollies when the clean up their toys. 1 does an excellent job and earns the lolly. The other does a bit and then whines until he gets his lolly. Who do think enjoyed the lolly more. Doesn't the kid that earned it, enjoy it more, the geshmake feeling of earning your own is very satisfying. Not to mention you the giver, you feel way better giving the earner his lolly, doncha?
So Hashem is giving lollies, the earner and G-d, way more enjoy this exchange, then the freeloader, who will always grumble. Look around, you know some of 'em.
So working with assumption that Hashem likes giving to those who follow instructions, the Torah is created to provide such instructions. Personally I think G-d has a great sense of humor with some of the mitzvos, but all in all they do a body good.
So those who listen win fabulous prizes and those who don't still get, 'cause G-d is great! But they get, with a sigh.
Now Hashem need humans on a constant basis, so humans need to reproduce. OK to solve that, G-d introduced desire, I mean we could've grown on trees like apples, right?
So the good L-rd creates 2 types of humans, both species are needed to procreate but they are distinct. There are those who will create the new humans and those that will build what humans need to survive.
Let us use Adam and Chava.
Adam's instructions:
Arrange food and shelter.
Provide for your wife and kiddies this and whatever else falls into the miscellaneous folder
whether you get a office job, count sheep or plow fields is up to you, but that's your job.
Chava's Instructions:
Make sure the human race continues.
(sorry to those who get offended but I am not making this up. I believe this to be Torah values! I didn't write that woman couldn't be a lawyer, astronaut, cook, shlepper president or anything else she darn wants to be, I'm just saying that This is the way Judaism presents the family unit, and it, as all Torah values, work well.)
The female is given a G-d like ability to create life, she is made closer to a G-d like image than the male. In return, she is to use this gift to bring forth and nurture kids. And while there are exceptions, as a rule, women are way more capable of doing it.
What does all this have to do with the 3 brochos?
Well as hakoras hatov, we daven, not 'cause Hashem needs it, we daven to express thanx.
So we thank for what Hashem gave and will give.
This matnas chinum (free stuff) can be earned to a degree, by mitzvos, so everybody do as many as you can, but some might say 'hey its not fair, G-d told me to be busy with my children'.
True kids come first, and so says the L-rd "henceforth women are exempt from time based mitzvos and they can rack up more heaven points by just lovin' those kiddiepoos".
So in order
Ggentiles have only about 7 mitzvos (poor souls).
Jewish slaves have more.
Jewish women have even more.
Jewish men have most.
Get it?

The women express their, replacement heaven points, by saying 'thank you creating me more like yourself, your will'. Basically thanx for giving me the G-d like gift of creation! Women are more in tune with G-d than males.
Which also explains the mikva going, one purifies oneself before engaging in G-d's work.

OK 1 more point, if all this is true, then why the negative connotations, thanx that I'm not this and not that.
There is a famous Gemara that discusses whether it's better to be born or not, strictly from the human point of view. The conclusion is, that it's better not to ever arrive on this world.
So instead of thanking in the positive, the Great Assembly wrote these brachos the other way. Sorta I'd rather not be here, but since I already am, thanx for at least giving us the Torah Mitzvos to keep me going. And since you already created me, thanx for not making a gentile slave or a woman. At least I got lotsa mitzvos. And the women say thanx for making me more G-d like in the positive, 'cause they're happier with their lot!

Breath breath breath.
OK I think I got everything, if not give me a holler.

Old news....for some

Hey anybody read this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15701301/site/newsweek/

Big deal right? After all we knew this all along!

Movies

TV and big screen.
When I was younger I had lotsa time to watch 'em.
Now B"H the kids are older, and spousy and I have very little free time on our hands.
We used to go out to eat and an occasional movie.

Not anymore now we do homework, the usual 'what's for supper tomorrow?', paperwork, laundry, etc.

Do I miss the old times? Nah.

Point?
As I get older and appreciate different things and different aspects of life, I realize that, sure I enjoyed the flicks as much as the next guy, but the enjoyment was rather short lived.
Watching a good movie, draws you in into the story, I mean that's the point of it, right? So for one hour and 38 minutes you are in another world.
The other world imparts new thoughts and feelings that become part of one's psych, whether you want it or not.

I was reading on other blog sites about the shiduch scene or crises, new marriages such as what was written lately at http://shpitzle.blogspot.com/.
Ya know something, I really believe that movies skew the real view of things and how they should be.
An old friend of mine, divorced, falling off the derech, was looking to try again. so he calls every shadchan in the book and some that weren't.
He goes on dates.
Some days he comes to work with a smile and some days he grumbles all day.
We talked, he said he wanted a hot girl gorgeous with long hair.
I smile, been there done that, think I know better.
Eventually he shows up with the good news and a week later brings her in for us to check out.

Uuum....ok.....I would not have placed her in the HOT column, but hey what do I know, every pots got its cover. Yeah she was a size 2 and she did have long dark hair, but......
Whatever.

Anyway they got married, I still have the bencher.
I suppose you wanna know what happened ,there could be 2 major possibilities here:
1. They had a kid pregnancy made her fat, she cut off her hair to fit under the sheital. So he didn't really get what he wanted. Or did he?
2. He realized that long dark hair doesn't actually do anything and got divorced within 6 months B"H with out having any kids.

Nope.
I'm not gonna tell you.
Sorry.

I'm just gonna finish my point here. I think that 'Movies' have changed the way we, and mean males AND females, perceive our values.
Warner Bros tells us which parts of the body should be what size we stupidly nod and believe.

There is a pasuk in the Torah when yakov wakes in the morning and 'hinay he leah'.
'surprise- it's Leah'.
What happened to the woman he wanted to marry?
I think that the average guy goes out once twice or even fifty times with a girl.
Thinks he knows her.
But the day or maybe even weeks later 'v'hinay he leah'.
Don't marry the bombshell, cause when you peel off the clothing and the makeup, the shell, all you're left with is a bomb.
Most women do not remain a size 2 for very long boys check out the long term built in features.
Humor, smile, politeness, yes do marry her for brain.
I'm not saying she should be ugly, chas v'sholom until love sets in, at least be attracted to her, helps can't hurt.
But I keep on reading about how the girls complain that they seem to only date guys who want a size 2.
Yup that creates a shiduch crises.

I think they are dating fools and should be happy that the boys aren't interested, who wants to spend their life with someone who really wants to marry Ms. Osgedarta Shiksa.
Those are the guys who let movies influence their values.
Leave em be they'll grow up, eventually?

New blog New Story

So I agreed it was a great idea to tell em the male point of view.

Where to start and what to share hummmmm.....
Wedding night(mare)?
Early small talk sessions?
Chossan kalla chats?
Chosson shver/shviger chats!!?

Gotta take slow, but I'll share 1 thing that comes to mind with painful clarity.

The first 'regular' shabbos, you know the first shabbos after sheva brachos shabbos, when the young couple gets to eat out, at Fress-du-la-Shviger.
Ya gotta picture the nervous state we were in, her at my place and me at hers.So I do kiddush loud, that went ok,but sure didnt help me relax, then after washing I get to cut my own full size challa.The shver hands me his sterling silver fancy shmancy engraved challa knife. I make a frummy hamotie out loud (no mistakes!) and start cutting.
(I think it was probably more more amusing from my younger brother-in-laws point of view so at this point I'm gonna switch)
The young choson jumped up with a small yelp. A small spatter of dark red blood went, as if in slow motion, from his hand to the plastic on the table. The chair he was sitting on tilted back against the wall and stayed in a leaning position.
(switching back)
I grab my forefinger that just dirtied the shvigers table cloth and applied pressure. Feeling like a total shlamiel I forced an apologetic smile "oh it's nothing I 'll be right back".The nearest bathroom was to my right, right past my wife of 10 whole days. I saw the expression on her face, a mixture of 'is he for real' and 'oh my lord'.That really helped thing along nicely.
I tried to pass her but as my chair was wedged between me and the wall, my legs keeping the chair from slipping down to a marble floor. I couldn't grab the chair, as one hand was pressing the other tightly as so not to bleed all over the place. My spouse, by now recovering from shock couldn't move the chair as we were ahem 10 days after our chasuna, and it was leaning on me.So as time dragged out (it was probably 5 seconds but seemed like several years- you know what I'm talkin about I'm sure you've all been there) I decided to use a combo of leg pushing and fingers from both hands to right the chair. With my tail between my legs I quickly walked to the bathroom and cleaned up my finger, but my ego would not come clean. My wife had followed me out had to convince me for nearly five minutes that its no big deal.Even though my sister-in-law (bless her heart) had cleaned up the mess and knife, it was a long long time before the shver let me use it again, just about the same time my ego recovered!

Hey anybody else wanna share ?You know blogsvillians love a good story post em!